Getting organized can help you reach a fair settlement during your divorce. Fortunately, once you know what you need, it is easy to keep yourself on track.
Here is a divorce checklist. Be sure to follow each step to stay as organized as possible.
Consider settlement
The best option is to agree on divorce issues with your spouse outside of court. For example, think about whether you can work together to create plans for alimony, property division, debt division, child support and custody.
Consider legal help
You are not required to hire legal help for this process, although there are pros and cons to choosing this route. For example, hiring a service can protect your rights, but it will also raise costs. Check out some options in your area and see if you think this is the best option.
Prepare a parenting agreement
The mix gets a bit more confusing if you have children because you have to create a parenting agreement. This should include a custody plan, a calendar of shared time and child support.
Collect marriage documents
Start a folder with all of the essential documents related to your marriage. That will generally include agreements, your marriage license and life insurance policies.
Start your separation
Setting yourself up for life after receiving your divorce documents has quite a few tasks. These generally include:
- Protecting your credit
- Opening a bank account
- Protecting your personal information
- Setting up a P.O. box
- Finding health insurance
The key here is to ensure you can start separating your belongings and yourself and protect them.
Getting through all these steps might seem impossible. However, you can do it. Take it one step at a time, and you will soon have finished the divorce process.
