High emotions and changes to what you know as familiar can complicate an already difficult divorce in Columbus, OH. It’s perfectly normal to feel helpless during this time, but you can assuage some of those feelings by working closely with a divorce lawyer for women. Together, the two of you can discuss ways to bolster your case and protect your interests.
Ask a Divorce Lawyer for Women: 6 Things That Can Help Your Case in Columbus, OH
1. Care for Your Children
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The stress of divorce can distract even the most devoted parent. Your children, however, need stability more now than ever. They also need to feel you’re committed to caring for them.
You should therefore maintain their usual schedules, especially if they participate in after-school activities, and show you care about their accomplishments. Stay in touch with their teachers and consider enrolling your children in counseling, if necessary. Also, talk to them. Ask how they are, what they did in school, and how they would like to spend their days with you, as you may not see them every day once the divorce gets underway.
2. Keep Immaculate Records
A divorce lawyer for women will likely ask you to keep immaculate records of the time spent with your children. Likewise, you should include notes of what they do while with your spouse. Additional details to include in your record keeping include:
- Derogatory comments made by your spouse in front of the children
- Any fights between you and your spouse the children witness
- When your spouse should pick up the children and when they actually do so
- When the children are supposed to be returned and the time they actually arrive
3. Stay in the Marital Home
Unless you are a victim of domestic violence, you should remain in the marital home until your attorney advises otherwise. Certain tasks need to be completed before you pack your bags, including signing an agreement with your spouse on parenting time for minor children. This eliminates confusion about where the children will be at specific times and minimizes any chaos they might feel.
You and your spouse must also agree on how personal property will be divided. You lose control over your belongings once you leave the house. This means that your spouse may begin disposing of assets, therefore making it difficult for the court to properly value and split personal items. You don’t need to take all physical property when you leave, but you will need a list of the items you want as well as those which your spouse intends to keep.
Who Keeps the House?
A third consideration before you leave the marital home involves who will keep this asset. If your spouse plans to stay and you want to leave, you have little to worry about. However, if both of you want the home, the court may give preference to the spouse who remains. Your attorney can explain this in greater detail and help you decide if remaining in the home, leaving, or even selling is the best way to protect your interests.
4. Build a List of Assets and Debts
It’s no secret that emotions run high during a divorce. Many spouses respond by charging expensive items to a joint credit card, hiding assets, or telling their attorneys malicious and untrue stories. In other words, you cannot predict how your spouse will behave once you file for divorce. It’s best to protect your financial health now so as not to taint your future.
We recommend you build a list that details every financial asset you own, both jointly and separately. You can substantiate your list with copies of contributions to retirement funds, credit card statements, and bank statements. Keep documentation concerning your property as well, such as real estate, automobiles, and recreational vehicles. Likewise, record your debts so they also get divided in the divorce.
5. Remain Respectful
While your spouse may try to complicate the divorce process with harsh words and threats, you should remain respectful at all times. Fighting can make a contentious legal matter worse by delaying the proceedings or disrupting terms previously agreed upon. By remaining respectful, you may avoid dramatic courtroom battles and have your interests met before the divorce is finalized.
6. Skip Digital Communications
Sending your spouse an angry text is not unusual during a divorce. However, all digital messages can be used to portray you in a negative light. The judge will not look kindly at abusive electronic communications. Instead, you should take a break from texts to support your mental health and help protect your case.
Social media accounts should be similarly ignored until your divorce decree is signed. Posting about a job promotion could prompt your spouse to ask for alimony or request that child support paid to you be lowered. Likewise, pictures of a night out with friends could indicate lapses in childcare judgment.
A divorce must be handled with care to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family. You can help your case by caring for your children, maintaining proper records, and staying in the marital home – at least for the present. You should also create a list of assets and debts, remain respectful, and avoid digital communications until your divorce is finalized.
