You organize all kinds of things in your life with checklists. It’s so much easier to tackle a tough, multi-step process when it has been broken down into smaller component parts. You can choose to handle the end of your marriage in the same way. Just because there are a myriad of details, doesn’t mean that you can’t use a checklist to prepare for divorce. In fact, you may come out a few steps ahead by using a checklist.
Many common mistakes can be avoided by using the following divorce preparation checklist:
- Gather financial records before the divorce
- Pull your credit report
- Get a P.O. box
- Change your passwords and get a new email account
- Make copies of important files now
- Plan for the first year of co-parenting
- Determine what is important to you regarding child custody
- Transfer retirement funds
- Update your beneficiaries
- Plan for your health care
- Collect important sentimental items
What can I take away from this list?
The pre-divorce checklist will bring you much-needed peace of mind from knowing that you have eliminated many of the potential obstacles that you otherwise may face at some point in the divorce process. Some recommendations, such as securing important documents, pulling your credit report and making copies of financial documents help you prepare for the financial impact of divorce.
Other items, such as getting a P.O. box and changing your passwords can protect your privacy and security through the divorce process. The few tips about child custody will get you in the mindset to share the task of parenting and protect the best interests of any children when you plan ahead to avoid conflicts.
Be prepared
If nothing else, by following a divorce checklist you will be better prepared to enter the divorce process. You will have sorted out many of your own feelings about the issues that can pop up during divorce, and you will now be better prepared to answer those questions when they come up in discussions with your ex-spouse.
Finding the support and assistance you need
Every divorce is unique and preparation for ending some marriages can prove to be much more complex and complicated than others. By acquiring experienced legal counsel in addition to completing your personal divorce checklist, you can gain an understanding of any state and/or federal laws that apply to your case, ensure that you receive all of the marital property to which you are entitled and protect your parental rights throughout the process.