Thursday, July 31, 2008

Preparing Yourself - Divorce Tips For Women

By Allison Thompson


When it comes to divorce proceedings if you are actually able to prepare as much as possible before starting them it can make the whole process a lot less stressful. By planning a head you will find that you are better able to make more sound and informed decisions regarding your future than if you rush head long into a divorce. There are many pitfalls associated with the divorce process and below we provide some divorce tips for women which can help you to prepare for any eventuality.

Tip 1 - Before actually starting your divorce proceedings make sure that you get any paperwork that is important together first. So you need to gather together everything relating to all the assets and debts you and your partner may have both as a couple or as individuals. You need to get information relating to all bank accounts, credit cards, investments and of course do not forget the mortgage. Also if you are able gather together your tax statements for the past 3 years along with any employment and pay information you have.

Tip 2 - When preparing to start divorce proceedings know exactly what your financial situation is as this will help you determine exactly how much the marital state is worth. When we talk about the marital estate we are talking about those things which have been accumulated by you and your partner during the time of your marriage. The best way to actually determine how much the marital estate is worth is by taking away all debts which are outstanding from any assets (investments, savings, equity in home etc) you may have.

Tip 3 - As soon as you have made the decision to commence divorce proceedings you should then seek legal advice as soon as possible. Often it is very beneficial to you if you consult a lawyer during the very early stages of preparing for a divorce. If you can discuss the matter with a lawyer who has qualified in family law and can provide you with the options that are available to you.

Tip 4 - It is crucial that when you are preparing to commence divorce proceedings you ensure that all your taxes are up to date. The last thing you want is more hassle during the closing stages when the divorce is due to be finalized. If you at any stage suspect that, your partner has not been reporting their taxes properly and is likely to be audited at some time then consider actually filing an amended tax return as a married person who wishes to file separately from their spouse.

Tip 5 - Something else you will need to make sure that you have sorted out before you file for divorce is if you have sufficient life, medical and health insurance coverage. Most people once they get married choose to take out insurance policies together rather than separately simply because it will save them money. Therefore, as soon as you are ready to file for divorce you need to get all the right sorts of insurance coverage in place. Along with medical, health and life insurance coverage for you and any children you may have you need to make sure you have insurance coverage for your home and any vehicles you use.

When it comes to filing for divorce it is important that you prepare as much as possible so that you are able to cope with any eventuality. The more well prepared you are then the more likely you will find that the divorce is much more amicable. This is extremely important especially where children are involved as it can cause a lot of distress on them as well.

In order for you to avoid the pitfalls that many women before have faced when it comes to divorce is to be well prepared. If you remember the above divorce tips for women that we have mentioned above then you may find yourself better to cope with the stresses and strains that this situation can put on you.

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