Things to do before Filing for Divorce
No one is fully prepared for divorce. However, chances are that you will know when a divorce becomes imminent for you and your spouse. There are a few things that you need to do, according to Chicago Now, before you file for divorce or announce your intentions to do so.
'Gather copies of your tax returns for a minimum of three years. You will also want to gather the statements for all of your bank accounts, retirement and brokerage accounts, and IRAs. Having this paperwork on hand will save you money. If you have to have the attorney obtain them, you will have to approximately additional fees.
Order a current copy of your credit report. You need to have all of the information about joint accounts that you have with your spouse. You want all debt to be dealt with during the divorce negotiations so that you are not adversely affected.
Save some cash. If you are the spouse that does not work or has fewer assets, you need to make sure that you have saved enough money to get your through the divorce negotiations and to pay your legal fees. Being in a financial bind will often lead to you agreeing to a settlement that is less than you deserve just for the immediate financial relief. Your spouse's lawyer will play to this weakness if it is available.
Be careful when accessing certain types of information. Do not hack your spouse's email and social media accounts in order to gather evidence against them. This breach of privacy can get you into trouble and your findings can be excluded.
If you have questions regarding the divorce laws of the state of Illinois, an experienced Kane County divorce attorney can assist you with those answers and proper legal representation in court.
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