Divorce planning is the strategic process of preparing for divorce before initiating the legal proceedings. It involves organizing your financial, legal, and emotional aspects to ensure a smoother transition through the divorce process.

What do you hope to achieve through the divorce process? What are the results you’re looking for? At Alexandra Geczi, PLLC, we begin divorce planning by clarifying your needs and your goals, and then we build a strategy around your priorities. We will make sure to explain every step of the process to you, and you will be included in all decisions to ensure that we pursue the best possible divorce options for you. Divorce planning is your opportunity to take control of a stressful situation and plan ahead for peace of mind.

Here’s a breakdown of key elements in divorce planning:

 1.   Financial Assessment:

   – Gather documents: Collect and organize all financial records, including bank statements, tax returns, investment portfolios, and property documents.

   – Assess your financial situation: Evaluate your income, assets, debts, and expenses to understand your financial standing.

   – Establish a budget: Create a post-divorce budget to ensure financial stability and plan for future expenses.

   – Tackle debt: Assess the types of debt you have and your options for paying off debt now versus later.  

  – Set aside money: Analyze how much you will need to set aside before you file to ensure that you are not in a financial position that forces you to settle for less than you deserve.

  – Career assessment: Consider whether starting or changing employment or careers will need to wait or be accelerated. 

2.  Legal Consultation:

   – Consult with an experienced divorce attorney: Seek legal advice to understand your rights, responsibilities, and potential outcomes in divorce proceedings.

   – Explore dispute resolution options: Discuss mediation, collaborative divorce, amicable divorce, uncontested divorce, or traditional litigation with your attorney to choose the best approach for your situation.

   – Understand the basics: Research basic divorce laws and how they may impact your situation.

3. Child Custody and Support:

   – Prioritize children’s well-being: If you have children, explore custody and visitation plans that consider their best interests.

   – Determine child support: Work with your attorney to calculate appropriate child support and how child expenses will be split. 

4. Asset Division:

   – Identify marital property: Make a list of assets acquired during the marriage that may be subject to division, including real estate, retirement accounts, and personal property.

   – Understand equitable distribution: Learn about your state’s laws regarding property division and strive for a fair settlement.

   – Determine if alimony is appropriate: Understand your options for alimony and spousal maintenance.

   – Consider working with outside professionals: Consider using outside professionals to advise regarding real estate, mortgage lending, debt and credit repair, tax issues, and retirement planning.

  – Protect your business interests: Speak with an attorney about how to protect your business or partnership interests in the event of divorce.

5. Emotional Support:

   – Seek emotional support: Reach out to friends, family, or a therapist to help you cope with the emotional challenges of divorce.

   – Prioritize self-care: Maintain a healthy lifestyle, engage in activities you enjoy, and focus on your well-being.

   – Work with a therapist or coach about how to break the news: Seek guidance about how to break the news to friends and family and what is appropriate to discuss with your spouse.

  – Domestic violence: Understand how domestic violence, child abuse, stalking, and family violence may impact your case and legal rights. 

6. Separation Planning:

  – Decide living arrangements: Explore housing options to figure out whether one of you will need to move out while the divorce is pending.

  – Budgeting for two homes: Learn how maintaining two households during divorce may impact you financially.

  – Revise estate plans: Consider whether you need to update wills, account beneficiaries, powers of attorney, and insurance plans before you file.

  – Separating accounts: Set up separate accounts for finances, emails, social media, and cell phones, and be sure to change passwords, too.

  – Social media detox: Review social media accounts and consider hiding posts that may negatively impact your case but seek guidance from an attorney to be sure you don’t violate any laws by doing so.