Preparing for divorce in the new year

Many spouses in California wait until after the holidays are over to get a divorce. According to one U.S. study, divorces peak around March and again in August. Many divorce attorneys theorize that holiday stress or an unpleasant summer vacation can trigger couples to think about filing for divorce. There are several ways that those who are facing an impending divorce can prepare themselves.

One of the first steps a person preparing for divorce should take is to analyze their financial information. Gathering documents such as tax returns, recent pay stubs, bank account information and credit reports is important since this information will be used to determine alimony, child support and division of property and debt.

Another important consideration is to take a self-inventory of all social media accounts. It is a good idea to take a break from social media while a divorce is pending. Avoid saying negative things about the case or other spouse on the internet. Even seemingly innocent posts about spending money or celebrating a friend’s birthday could be used later in court.

A third way to prepare for a divorce in the upcoming year is to make a plan about what life should look like after the divorce is finalized. It can be scary to think about sharing child custody and living somewhere new, but planning ahead can help ease stress associated with the upcoming change.

A lawyer can assist clients who are facing divorce by helping them create plans regarding property division and child support. Many cases settle out of court, and a divorce lawyer may be able to negotiate a fair divorce settlement for the client.