Adding Divorce to Your New Year’s Resolution
The holidays are in full swing and many of you have probably already started thinking about your new year’s resolutions. You know the usual---lose ten pounds, drink more water, pay off debt, better self-care. Divorce is not typically on the list of resolutions, well, maybe not on the resolution list that people say aloud, but it isn’t that uncommon for people to determine that the New Year is a good time to start fresh. Most people want to get through the holiday resulting in a spike in divorce filings beginning in January and peaking in February and March nationwide, according to an article published in 2017 by Business Insider. If divorce is an item on your new year’s resolution list, here is a list of tips to help you prepare yourself for divorce.
Are you really ready?
One of the first questions I ask all clients is, “Are you sure you want to get divorced?” Although, and it may seem a bit odd, but I truly want to make sure all my clients fully understand all aspects of divorce from financial to child support and custody. Of course, every divorce case is unique and will vary, but divorces can run well into thousands of dollars. Kevin Hickey Law Partners prides itself on taking care of our clients, which begins with making them fully educated on decisions they will be making in regards to their case.
Do your homework.
As I mentioned our firm wants all of our clients to fully understand their divorce or child custody cases, but we always recommend doing your homework. We will often give our clients “homework” after they hire us to help their cases. As you know, even the most amicable divorces can often become complicated rather quickly due to high emotional tension. Important information and documents you will need are:
- Loan documents
- Credit card bills
- Retirement account statements
- Bank statements
- Tax returns
- Business documents, if self-employed
- A list of all assets and necessary documentation, if required
- A list of all liabilities and appropriate documentation, if required
- Any other pertinent financial information
Gathering these documents can take some time, so it is best to begin as soon as possible. We recommend making copies as you gather them and placing them in a safe place.
Prepare yourself mentally.
No matter how ready you are for a fresh start, divorce is challenging mentally. It is a painful process and reminder that something you have invested yourself in didn’t work out the way you had planned. The more support you have, the better off you will be. Divorce can often make you feel isolated and alone, especially in cases where a longtime marriage is ending. Everything you have known for a good majority of your life is changing including traditions, friend groups, and family functions. We often recommend that our clients seek professional help from a therapist to ease the transition process.
Stay healthy.
Again, this one may seem like a no-brainer, but it is important that you take care of yourself during this time. The stress of divorce often leads to poor eating habits and a lack of sleep leaving you susceptible to illness. Take care of your body by eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. In addition, to physically harming you when you let these things go, they can often result in bad decision-making as it affects your ability to think clearly. Lack of sleep can also lead to irritability and short tempers.
It is critical to hire an experienced divorce attorney with an extensive history in divorce cases and assuring clients get the best possible outcome. Divorce laws are complex and adding assets, debts, businesses, and children to the mix further complicate things making the entire process feel overwhelming. Kevin Hickey Law Partners’ experience and expertise are second to none. Our first priority is our clients, decisions and outcomes affecting the rest of their lives. Call today and let us help you begin the New Year with a fresh start.