Divorce Advice for Women

 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.