Gather Documents. The first thing you should do when preparing for a divorce is to make copies of your family’s important documents.
Documents you may need include: Tax returns. Real estate documents. Estate planning documents. Insurance information. Bank account statements. Retirement account statements. Loan documents. Credit card statements. Recent pay stubs for both you and your spouse.
Differentiate between marital and separate property
Another important thing you should do when preparing for divorce is to make a list of all of your family’s assets and debts. Next, you should categorize the items as either marital or separate property. The majority of property and debt acquired during the marriage is considered marital property, and this will be divided during your divorce. Separate property, on the other hand, is not divided during a divorce. Separate property includes assets or debts that you or your spouse owned before marriage.
Review your expenses
Finally, in preparation for divorce, you should review your family’s expenses.
Common expenses include: Household bills. Food. Clothing. Gas. Home maintenance. Entertainment.
Reviewing your expenses is a good way to anticipate what your expenses may be following your divorce. However, keep in mind that one’s expenses often change following a divorce. For example, if your spouse keeps the marital home, then your living expenses, household bills, and home maintenance costs will likely change.
Contact a Lithonia divorce lawyer
One of the biggest mistakes a party to a divorce can make is failing to properly prepare. Part of the preparation process should involve working with an experienced family law attorney. At the law office of E.N. Banks-Ware, we will work diligently to ensure that you achieve the results you desire in your Georgia divorce. Our experienced Georgia divorce attorney will be with you every step of the way as you begin this new chapter in your life. Therefore, if you are considering a divorce in Lithonia County or anywhere else in the state of Georgia, please contact our experienced divorce attorney immediately for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.