Creating a Divorce Checklist

 Posted on March 16, 2023 in Divorce

Divorce can and often does have a substantial impact on a person’s life. There are so many changes that take place both during the divorce process and also once it is complete. It is also not uncommon for the couple to go into an adversarial mode with each other, even if they both agree that divorce is the best decision for their family.

The decision to divorce by either one or both spouses typically does not happen overnight. There is usually a period of time leading up to that decision where the couple struggles with difficulties in the marriage and may even question whether they should stay together. If you are struggling with that decision or suspect your spouse is, it is important to take the necessary steps to prepare for the day that one of you files that divorce petition in order to protect your marital and parental rights. The following is a suggested “divorce checklist” to make sure you have covered all bases.

Get Copies of All Financial Documents

Once a divorce petition has been filed, it is common for important financial documents for the couple’s assets to just “disappear.” This is why you should take copies of all these documents before anyone files. This includes current statements from all financial accounts you and your spouse have, including retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, property deeds, vehicle titles, income taxes, paystubs, and any other relevant documents.

You should also make copies of all debts you and your spouse have, including mortgages, vehicle loans, credit card debt, and personal loans.

Obtain a Copy of Your Credit Report

Knowing exactly what you owe to creditors is critical when it comes to negotiating how the marital estate will be divided between you and your spouse. It is also important to see what debts are in your name that you may have not known about. There are plenty of divorce cases where one spouse has obtained credit cards and financial loans without the other spouse’s knowledge.

Get a PO Box in Your Name Only

Even if you have not legally started the divorce process, you want to limit any access your spouse has to any of your personal information, especially any correspondence from your attorney or documents from any financial institutions or creditors if you have opened up a checking account and/or credit card in your name only.

Change All Passwords

Another frequent issue in divorce is one spouse “snooping” through all of the other spouse’s online accounts. It is common for spouses to know each other’s passwords for different accounts, so make sure you change your passwords for all of your online accounts, including social media and email accounts. You may even want to consider creating a brand-new email account.

Jewelry and Other Heirlooms

If you have valuable heirlooms, you want to make sure these are in a safe place and not in the marital home. Give these items to a trusted family member or friend so these items do not “disappear.” Make sure to let your attorney know of these items' existence and what you have done with them so your spouse cannot accuse you of hiding assets.

Contact a Collin County Divorce Attorney

If you are considering a divorce, make sure you are armed with the information you need to protect your best interests. Call The Ramage Law Group at 972-562-9890 to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our skilled McKinney, TX high asset divorce attorneys.

Source:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-a-simple-divorce-checklist-can-keep-you-from-making-these-10-common-mistakes_b_8271322