A new year often means a fresh start for most people. This could be different for everyone but when looking at divorce specifically, it’s important to recognize the best ways to properly prepare yourself for the upcoming process. This is important because there are often steps overlooked or done incorrectly which can be detrimental to your case.
Getting Organized Financially
The financial process of a divorce can often be one of the most daunting. The more prepared you are, the easier of a time you’ll have. It’s important that you gather all the necessary legal documents you have access to. These include tax returns, bank statements, retirement accounts, and debt. Making sure all of these are organized and ready to be handed to legal counsel is essential in staying on top of your case.
According to the California’s community property system, full financial transparency is required of all parties in a divorce. Failing to do this could result in a greater financial loss for you when it comes time for the judge to make their decisions regarding how your finances are split.
The next aspect to keep in mind is budgeting for yourself. Having at least a general idea of your post-divorce budget is crucial in making sure that you are not overspending and are living within your means. It’s quite common for people, men especially, to get swept up in the heat of emotional distress during a separation and not realize how much they’re spending and/or how little they’re saving. This could lead to disastrous results for you following the finalization of your divorce.
Finally, make sure you separate what’s known as community property versus separate property. Community property includes all assets, money, and debt that accrued during the marriage while separate property includes what was obtained outside of the marriage.
Overall, the more organized you are with your financial records, the stronger your position will be when dividing assets or negotiating support.
Protecting Your Relationship with Your Children
While it’s clear that divorce can be a strain on you as the husband, it’s also a strain on your children. Make sure that you maintain as much consistent positive contact with your children throughout the entire process. Taking a significant role in parenting such as picking your kids up from school, driving them to extracurricular activities, and being there to support them will only better your chances when it comes to custody decisions. California has a preference for shared custody and does what is in the best interest of the child, so showing that you are an involved father will only strengthen your case.
Take Care of Your Emotional and Mental Health
It’s so important that you prioritize your mental wellbeing throughout this draining process. Taking the time to enjoy activities that take away some of that stress will keep you from burning out which will keep your mind as clear as possible during the entirety of the case. Focus on taking as many breaks as you need and setting a good example for your children when it comes to taking care of your mental health and stability.
Build the Right Legal Team
Having the right legal team early on can prevent you from making mistakes pertaining to the actual separation. Moving out too soon or mismanaging assets are good examples of areas that men often underestimate or fail to consider when handling their divorce. Sticking with a local legal team in San Diego will only benefit you as judges can be varied throughout the city, so having that experienced local team representing you will only benefit you in the long run.
Men’s Legal Center
Men’s Legal Center located right in San Diego is here to help you. Make sure you get in contact with the team as soon as possible for your free case review and to maximize the time you have to prepare both yourself and your case.