Facing a divorce is a difficult process regardless of the surrounding circumstances. A chapter of your life is closing and a new one is set to begin. With some preparation, women facing a divorce can limit the stress and uncertainty of their lives both during and post-divorce. While we have provided advice for both parties during a divorce, this article will focus specifically on women who are amid divorce.
Begin Saving Money
You are going to need your own funds during a divorce, and
you should be prepared to support yourself and your children for some time
while the divorce is pending. If you are dependent on your spouse’s income, be
aware that there is a possibility that they could suddenly cut off the support
with which you are accustomed. If you
establish a separate bank account or credit card prior to or during the
divorce, understand that your spouse will have the right to obtain copies of
those statements.
Educate Yourself about Family Violence
Family violence, including physical violence and threats of
the same, exists in many marriages. If
you have experienced it, you owe it to yourself and your family to share this
information with your attorney. Your
attorney will be able to suggest different types of protections that may be
available to you and your children.
Additionally, being transparent about what you have endured during your
marriage will help your attorney prepare a case tailored to your own
experiences and needs.
Protect Your Digital Life
Unfortunately, divorce can bring out the worst in
spouses. Fear and distrust lead
reasonable people to act irrationally and start spying on people they once
trusted. To protect your privacy, turn
off geo-location services on your phone and other electronics. Be aware that your spouse may already have
access to all of your bank account passwords, e-mail passwords, Facebook,
iCloud and Google passwords. Also
recognize that these accounts could also be active on old devices, like the
children’s iPad or your old phone. While
you may have thought to change your passwords, remember that your spouse also
knows all the answers to your security questions—change those too. Also consider getting a new email address
that is just to be used for correspondence with your attorney—that way, your
spouse is much less likely to know where to look if he intends to spy on you.
Avoid Social Media
Practice extreme caution before you post anything on social
media. While it may seem harmless to vent about your current situation or boast
about your newfound freedom, it could negatively affect you during the divorce
process. The best policy is to log off entirely and prevent the urge to argue
with anyone online or post things that you may later regret.
Establish a Routine
Keeping your life as normal as possible during a divorce
will help you and your children. Do not skip meals or alter your sleeping
habits – these routines help keep you focused and create a comforting sense of
normalcy during a tumultuous time. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress
and do your best to maintain a social life by visiting friends and family. If
you are able to speak to a therapist, you should do so as well as they are a
neutral source to act as a soundboard for you during a divorce.
Be Positive
It is remarkably easy to fall into a negative mindset during
a divorce. Try to maintain a positive outlook and do not allow yourself to be
lured into conflicts with your spouse. You will need to work together to
resolve the divorce as amicably as possible and reach a mutually beneficial
settlement. If you have children, you will need to co-parent for years
following your settlement and avoiding conflicts will only serve you in your
life ahead. Choosing to converse with your spouse through email provides the
opportunity to slow the pace of a conversation and gives you both time to fully
consider what you wish to say and the best way to say it.
Research
It is
important that you learn as much as you can about divorce early on in the
process. Information is power and will help you feel more comfortable and make
the decisions that will serve you and your children the best. Working with an
experienced attorney can help guide you through the process of a divorce.
Jenkins & Kamin LLP cares about their clients and wants every stage of
their divorce to go as smoothly and favorably as possible.
Jenkins
& Kamin LLP is noted for its “team” approach by pairing skilled attorneys,
paralegals and other support staff to enhance each client’s experience in
difficult life transitions.
In
addition to the “team” approach, Jenkins & Kamin, LLP strives to
personalize case strategies for each individual client, including identification
of every particular legal issue and effective explanation of the law with
respect to those issues. The firm endeavors to achieve a resolution that
is appropriate for each client, while aggressively advocating on their behalf
when necessary. Having a dedicated and experienced team working with you in any
family law matter is of utmost importance to achieve the best result possible.
Jenkins
& Kamin LLP represents clients in the following aspects of family law
practice: Marital Property Agreements, Divorce, Complex Property Issues, Child
Custody & Visitation, Child Support, Parentage, Modifications, Family Law
Appeals and Dispute Resolution Alternatives. To learn more about the firm,
visit http://www.jenkinskamin.com or
contact one of our offices in the greater Houston area.
