While making the decision to get a divorce is difficult in and of itself, going through a divorce can take a substantial emotional and financial toll if you are not prepared. Here are some tips for successfully navigating your way through a divorce:
Find a good divorce lawyer. Talk to people you know who have gone through a divorce and you will find that many of them who got through it safely give a good bit of credit to finding a divorce attorney that they trusted and liked. Of course, the divorce attorney who worked wonders for your friend is not necessarily the best one for you. You need to look around and do not be afraid to interview a number of attorneys until you find one you think will represent you well. After all, you will trust your divorce lawyer with every intimate detail of your life and counting on their expertise to help you find your way to a better life. Take the time you need to find the right fit for you.
Honesty is the best policy. Not being completely honest with your divorce attorney could put you at a big disadvantage and compromise your case. As experienced divorce attorneys, we know that there is seldom anything worse than being blindsided in court because a client was either not truthful or entirely forthcoming. You are not doing yourself any favors by failing to disclose information that may have a bearing on your divorce or child custody case.
Get support. Be sure you have a good support network in place to help you through the ups and downs that naturally occur during the divorce process. Sharing your feelings with family and friends (in person, not on Facebook!) or even a trained professional can help relieve stress and help you deal with counterproductive emotion.
Practice patience. These days, there is rarely anything known as a “quickie divorce” — especially if there are children involved, numerous assets, or a marriage that has lasted a number of years. Many divorces can take up to a year to complete, so understand going in that this will take time.
Be realistic. Do not expect to be able to use the judge or the judicial process as a hammer to hit your spouse over the head – it just doesn’t work that way. Family courts are interested only in following the law, not in assessing fault and dispensing punishment. If children are involved, the court will do what is best for the children – which usually means taking every measure to ensure both spouses remain involved in the lives of those children.
You can rely on Cistaro Law to skillfully negotiate and mediate your issues to a satisfactory resolution. Should the need arise, you can also count on our experience for being aggressive litigators if the situation calls for a more assertive response. Contact us today for your free consultation.
