They say marriage is the union of two souls. But not all souls that bind in a marriage can stay together forever. There are many reasons why a marriage can go sour. It could be the lack of interest of one or both partners, personal incompatibility, possessive or controlling nature of a partner, or something else. Whatever may the cause of dissent be, staying put in a bad marriage can badly affect your life.
It can make you unhappy, stressed, depressed, and resentful about yourself. It can also increase the chances of heart diseases and suicides. That is why it is important that you get out of a bad marriage as soon as possible. And the best way to do so would be to get a divorce. A divorce will not only relieve you from a marriage that’s taking a toll on you but will also allow you the freedom to live life the way you want.
What to do before you appeal for a divorce?
Appealing for a divorce isn’t difficult, but you must be well prepared before you do so. This will save you from unnecessary hassles and get you the best benefits from the divorce. Here are a few things that you should before you file a divorce suit:
1. Talk to a marriage counselor
You may be at the end of your patience but you may consider one more try at saving your marriage. Ending a marriage is easy but that may not be the right thing to do on all occasions. A marriage may turn sour because of factors or causes that are out of one’s control. These may have a disastrous effect on the marriage and make the partner(s) consider a divorce. A counselor can help couples to understand these problems and handle them in a mature way. This may save your marriage.
2. Manage your finances
Before you even think of filing a divorce, you must set your finances right. Begin with your bank accounts. Change passwords to all accounts that you own including any safety box that you may have. This will prevent your partner from accessing them. However, you cannot do the same with accounts that you hold jointly with your spouse. You should also make a list of all your debts and assets. You can hire an accountant to do this for you or you may do this by going through your bank accounts, retirement plans, pension accounts, property and mortgage papers, credit card statements, bonds, stocks, etc. Apply for a divorce only if you are financially stable.
3. List all valuables that you have
If you have been together for many years, it is obvious that you have bought valuable items together. It could be furniture, jewelry, art, home appliances, gifts, and more. Make a list of all such valuable items that you own so that you get your share of the divide after your divorce.
4. Manage your non-financial assets
Before you apply for a divorce, you must also make a list of non-financial valuables that you have in the house. It could be scrapbooks or photo albums that you have collected over the years or it could be a valuable painting. Keep all such things in a safe place together so that you can access them any time you want and take them with you in case you move out.
5. Think about your child’s custody
If you have a child, you must consider his/her custody before applying for a divorce. In most cases, parents receive joint custody of the child which means you will have to keep seeing your ex-spouse for a long time to come. So, it is best that you have at least talking terms with your spouse or each meeting could be stressful for you.
6. Have a support network
You may not be yet ready to tell others that you want a divorce but you should start working towards it. Start building a strong network of friends and family whom you can trust and rely on during the stressful times ahead. Make sure that you are emotionally stable before you proceed.
7. Hire a good lawyer
A divorce is, in itself, devastating. You don’t want it to go worse by hiring a good-for-nothing lawyer. You need someone who is good at his job and will minimize the hassles that you have to go through. A good divorce lawyer Florida will do thorough homework and build a case that’s foolproof. That way, you will be granted a divorce with minimum stress and within a very short time as well. This will be the best for you as you can escape the horror and start your life anew. So, before you think of getting a divorce, hire a lawyer with a neat record of handling cases such as yours.
