Tips for Divorce
1. Talk to a Divorce Attorney
It is incredibly important you know your legal rights. Every situation is different, and you will need an experienced divorce lawyer to advise you how the law affects your particular circumstances. The law varies from state to state and is even applied differently throughout a state. If your case is in the Chicago land area it is preferable to seek out a Chicago divorce lawyer versus one from downstate and vice versa. There are many decisions to be made and timing is often crucial. One example is moving out of your marital home, even temporarily. Talking with a lawyer can shed light on what actions are appropriate, when they should be taken, and how they can affect your negotiating ability and the terms of your settlement.
2. Know Your Finances
Before filing for divorce, if possible, gather as much financial information as you can. Get copies of your tax returns for the last 3 to 5 years of, home appraisals, banks and credit card statements, current pay stubs and anything else you can get your hands on. These papers will prove helpful and aren’t always readily available to you once your case begins. Examining your credit report may provide useful information too. Everyone is entitled to a free credit report from each of the 3 main credit bureaus once a year. To obtain your free reports go to: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
3. Put Your Kids First
Divorce can be extremely time-consuming and emotionally draining. Time previously spent with family may be spent on hours of searching for an attorney, collecting documents, researching your rights, etc. This process will be a huge change for your children, so try to maintain their routine, keeping their life as steady and safe as you can. Do not involve them in disputes with your spouse and avoid fighting and badmouthing your spouse in front of your children. Keeping them free from conflict will make the divorce process easier on your children and yourself. I wrote about this in an earlier blog by Chicago therapist Dr. Cassandra Friedman.
Michael C. Craven is a well-known divorce attorney in Chicago, CPA and a partner of the law firm, Beermann Swerdlove, LLP (Formerly of Beermann, now a Partner at Harrison LLP) located in the Chicago area. He is highly respected among other divorce attorneys, judges and his clients. He also holds a Master of Tax Law Degree (LLM). For more information about his services, contact Michael at mcraven@harrisonheld.com or at Divorce Lawyers Chicago.
