6 SPRING CLEANING DIVORCE TIPS
Yeaaay! Spring is finally here! I thought it would never come.
With the change of season comes the deep desire to start getting rid of the old and bring in the new. Cleaning out the closets, getting organized, opening up the windows, and airing out the house. It feels good!!
For those thinking about divorce, I say it’s time to get divorce-ready and organized.
Here are some helpful tips:
Locate and Organize your Financial Documents
a. make a list of all your financial documents;
b. locate them;
c. make copies.
As part of your divorce preparation, knowing about your finances, and gathering the documents will give you solid knowledge and power. This will also save you time, expense and anxiety. Once you gather all the documents, make a copy for yourself. You may want to put the copies in a safety deposit box or leave them with a trusted family member or friend until you are ready to hire a divorce attorney or divorce mediator.
Please Check Your Credit
I’ve seen so many clients get side-swiped by not knowing about their credit. Don’t be one of them. During your marriage you may not have been paying attention to your individual credit. As a woman, if you are going to be newly single after divorce, your credit will be critical to your financial wellness. Please get a copy of your credit report now! This way if there are any discrepancies or issues, you can start working on fixing them.
Also keep a close eye on your joint credit card statements. Especially if you think your husband is cheating. You may just find purchases he is making for his girlfriend. This documentation will be valuable once you get your divorce underway!
Get a Bank Account and Credit Card in your Name!
If you don’t have your own bank account or credit card, you should!
Be discreet. Use a different bank from where you have your joint accounts. Open both a checking and savings account in your name only. Apply to different credit card companies, but do not use your home address, and do so before you will actually need the credit card.
Know your Tax Situation.
Divorce will change your future tax status. Divorce may mean a significant change to your income structure. There may be spousal support, capital gains, and sale of investments and assets. Tax considerations account for some of the complexity of dividing assets in divorce.
Put together your Divorce Dream Team.
Divorce is complex, costly and can be painful. But it doesn’t have to be. Consider a divorce mediator, a financial planner, and a therapist. Select what works best for you. If cost is a consideration, and an amicable approach is possible, consider mediation. It’s highly effective, and the preferred divorce choice of millenials!
Consider a Compassionate Therapist
Divorce is a supercharged emotional time. You don’t have to go on this journey alone.
In my legal practice, since I am also a psychologically-trained medical professional, in addition to legal strategy I also provide emotional support and psychological guidance. But since most attorneys don’t have a psychological/medical background, if you do hire a divorce attorney, I would also suggest you hire a therapist to help you through what can be a difficult time. As part of my divorce mediation process I have amazing therapists on my team to lend that extra support.
If you would like some help getting your divorce planning in place, call me. I can give you some ideas on how to organize and execute your divorce. 212.734.1551
Happy Spring!
Lois