Divorce & Separation
Getting Ready for Divorce
Separating from a spouse can be one of the hardest things in the world. Divorcing a spouse is a whole other story. Although it’s never an easy thing, it’s something that you should approach with composure and a clear mind. You will need information and a plan to make the best decisions you can for you and your family. Thinking with your emotions exclusively won’t get you very far. If you want to grasp the fundamentals and the intricacies of legal separation and divorce, our team members can help you do so. We can help you lay the groundwork for all that you need to do to get ready to move forward with confidence and clarity.
We Take Justice to Heart
Racine Divorce understands how trying a divorce can become. We want to help you make the best choices, the right choices for you and the ones you love.
Through our online and in person services, we are committed to help you obtain the outcomes you want and need in order to move forward with your life plans and goals. Ideally, we would like to help you move through a peaceful and rational divorce process. Although this doesn’t always end up being the case, we will give you our very best so you can work towards a healthy, sustainable future.
Our priorities are your priorities.
Why Do You Need To Prepare Yourself?
People sometimes wonder exactly why they should try to get ready for a separation or a divorce. The reality is that if you aren’t prepared to enter into a legal process, you might wind up making decisions unfavorable to your ideal outcome. If you neglect to get ready for separation or divorce, then it may lead to significantly steeper expenses for you. It may lead to a lot of frustration and anxiety that isn’t helpful or productive. We strongly recommend consulting a mediator to collaborate with you and your ex to start the process in a more peaceful and rational manner. To plan for a healthy, sustainable future requires you to be well prepared with a strategic plan.
Be Informed
It might sound cliché, but knowledge is power. Which is why you should focus on educating yourself. Our team at Racine Divorce can provide all the necessary resources and information you will need to make informed and logical decisions. We can fill you in on all the in’s and out’s, the up’s and down’s that come with divorce. Learn about the big topics and get an idea for the direction you would like to head or what your ideal outcome might look like. Take the time to learn the little stuff, the details matter. If you are well prepared and feel informed before you enter into a divorce, then you won’t be as prone to risk and will safeguard your case giving you a greater chance of success in the court room. We will work hard to inform and prepare you so you feel empowered and confident in each decision.
Reach Out to a Marriage Counselor
It is critical to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being during the divorce process. It doesn’t matter how tough or how composed you might think you are. Divorce is hard and stress can manifest in unexpected ways. That’s why you should think about reaching out to one of our seasoned and capable marriage counselors who may be able to help you sort out all of your feelings prior to moving forward. Marriage counselors often give their clients guidance and sustainability plans that target where you need to focus your energy. From addressing grief to practicing self-care methods, it is SO important to spend time with your mind and body, and take care of yourself before, during, and after your separation. Meeting with a counselor does not mean you are weak. It does not mean there is something wrong. It means you are stronger and more in-touch with your health and well-being.
Talk to a Divorce Lawyer
Entering into a divorce process means it is probably unfamiliar to you, as it is to most people. Never would you have ever considered this would happen to you. With all the rules and regulations that come with divorce, legal guidance is paramount. That’s why you shouldn’t delay talking to a divorce counselor, mediator, or lawyer, depending on which route you would like to take. Separating from a spouse can be tough. Dividing your finances, your home, and time with your kids are not quick and easy decisions to make. Which is why you need ample legal guidance to work on your behalf, in and outside of the courtroom. It can be overwhelming to navigate all of the legal elements by yourself. It’s critical to have guidance that can help you steer clear of lasting and destructive mistakes. Our Racine Divorce legal team will make sure you know your rights, provide you with options, and explore all possible outcomes you can work towards together.
Round Up All of Your Financial Papers
It’s critical for you and your spouse to be completely transparent in your finances, assets, and property. Divorce involves splitting up marriage debts and assets in a fair and just way. If you want to come out ahead, then you have to be well prepared to give it all you got. You have to indicate all of the things that you own – both tangible and intangible property. You have to find out about the things that your partner owns, there may be some things you don’t know about. If you want to figure out what is rightfully yours, then you should take the time to round up any and all documents that pertain to inheritances, pensions, valuable art pieces, expensive jewelry, or anything you suspect holds any value. Write out any and all potential assets that may exist. You should indicate whether you purchased or inherited something yourself, separate from the earnings of your partner. You should indicate whether you made any cash investments tied to your spouse, too. This makes a big difference in deciding how to split your property.
Think at Length About Child Custody
OF COURSE you want the best for your children. Have you spent time thinking about what that might look like for them after your separation? Which parent will they primarily live with? The stability of health and home for a child is taken very seriously in court. It is well worth your time to think about what you want your ideal outcome to be. Contemplate all things that involve child custody and how it works – from visitation rights to child support. Think about the age and individual needs of your children and who could better provide for them. Think about your career and travel requirements – will you be home to help them with school work, spend time with them, support them and give them every opportunity they deserve. Our counselors and mediators can absolutely help walk through these big decisions with you. We will set the bar high and work towards achieving your ideal outcome. The health and happiness of you and your children are in our best interest. We can help you make the best decisions you possibly could.
Hold Your Horses
People do irrational things in the heat of the moment. Yes, it is easy to do something to “get back” at someone you are mad at. But “hold your horses”, as they say. Try to maintain a calm and rational demeanor as you enter into your separation or divorce process. That means that you should resist the urge to do anything drastic or significant that might wind up biting you in the butt later. Avoid making rash decisions at all costs. If you are the individual who covers your household’s expenses, don’t give in to the temptation to stop making payments. Do not transfer funds from your shared bank account and do not sell their car. You should make a point to take the high road, be the rational, calm and collected example. Patience and rationality are highly valuable skills to practice until a rock-solid agreement is in place.
Secure a Mediator for Your Family
Mediators serve many purposes, but mostly they serve as the middle-man between two partners who are not getting along. If your separation or divorce feels particularly hostile or bitter, then you may find it difficult to interact with your spouse. That’s why it may be a smart idea to recruit the assistance of a family mediator. They will listen and work effectively to help with setting goals, negotiations, and making decisions that work best for all parties involved. We want to minimize drama, heightened emotions, and risk of making poor decisions for you and your family.