Getting a divorce can easily become a long, stressful, and prolonged process for both sides. Knowing what you are entering into during the divorce process is vital to making it out alive. Because when individuals marry and merge their lives there is a checklist of things that must be looked at.
Prenuptial Agreement
A prenuptial agreement can keep certain assets safe during a divorce and outline who will get what. This can be used as a "you leave with what you came in with" agreement with things like automobiles, family heirlooms, and other personal items. Although US courts observe prenuptial agreements they are not always followed down to the letter. They can outline where assets go and in some cases limit what can be taken. In order for a prenuptial agreement to be valid it is must be voluntarily, by both spouses, must be in writing, be notarized, and must be fully disclosed and fair.
Store Your Valuables
Once the divorce proceedings have begun one should move all important personal items somewhere safe, such as a safety deposit box. Do not treat this as a top secret operation but disclose, in written form, all items that have been moved into the safety deposit box to the other spouse.
Financial Information
When getting divorced finances always come up and that is why it is important to gather some information. One of the first things you should do when dealing with finances is find as many financial records as possible. This include items such income tax returns for the last 3 years, spouses income records, real estate records, stocks, bonds, trusts, loans, credit card statements, and whole life insurance policies. These are important pieces of information as joint accounts, investments, and the like will change after the divorce. It is also important to monitor credit card accounts as well as they will change as well. When all of this is collected separate bank and credit accounts should be opened.
House and Automobile
It is really an important area to get straightened out. Depending on how long the marriage has lasted automobiles and houses may be jointly owned or financed. If this is the fact there are some decisions that need to made. If the other spouse is retaining ownership of the car which is jointly financed it is recommended that they refinance the vehicle in their name. If the vehicle is paid for and is registered under both spouses it should be suggested the car be sold. Similar rules apply to a home or condo. If a there are children involved the spouse who plans to have full custody should remain in the house. Should the parent looking to gain child custody move out it's going to damage their chances of gaining custody.
Hire an Attorney
Despite seemingly straightforward an attorney should always be hired when petitioning for a divorce or receiving divorce papers. This should be done in order to protect you from the complexities of the divorce process. It is important to understand that when the divorce process begins that one should always protect themselves before any other party. It is important to hire an attorney that you trust.
Prenuptial Agreement
A prenuptial agreement can keep certain assets safe during a divorce and outline who will get what. This can be used as a "you leave with what you came in with" agreement with things like automobiles, family heirlooms, and other personal items. Although US courts observe prenuptial agreements they are not always followed down to the letter. They can outline where assets go and in some cases limit what can be taken. In order for a prenuptial agreement to be valid it is must be voluntarily, by both spouses, must be in writing, be notarized, and must be fully disclosed and fair.
Store Your Valuables
Once the divorce proceedings have begun one should move all important personal items somewhere safe, such as a safety deposit box. Do not treat this as a top secret operation but disclose, in written form, all items that have been moved into the safety deposit box to the other spouse.
Financial Information
When getting divorced finances always come up and that is why it is important to gather some information. One of the first things you should do when dealing with finances is find as many financial records as possible. This include items such income tax returns for the last 3 years, spouses income records, real estate records, stocks, bonds, trusts, loans, credit card statements, and whole life insurance policies. These are important pieces of information as joint accounts, investments, and the like will change after the divorce. It is also important to monitor credit card accounts as well as they will change as well. When all of this is collected separate bank and credit accounts should be opened.
House and Automobile
It is really an important area to get straightened out. Depending on how long the marriage has lasted automobiles and houses may be jointly owned or financed. If this is the fact there are some decisions that need to made. If the other spouse is retaining ownership of the car which is jointly financed it is recommended that they refinance the vehicle in their name. If the vehicle is paid for and is registered under both spouses it should be suggested the car be sold. Similar rules apply to a home or condo. If a there are children involved the spouse who plans to have full custody should remain in the house. Should the parent looking to gain child custody move out it's going to damage their chances of gaining custody.
Hire an Attorney
Despite seemingly straightforward an attorney should always be hired when petitioning for a divorce or receiving divorce papers. This should be done in order to protect you from the complexities of the divorce process. It is important to understand that when the divorce process begins that one should always protect themselves before any other party. It is important to hire an attorney that you trust.
About the Author:
Learn more about divorce law. Stop by Monique Bergeron's site where you can find out all about divorce advice and what it can do for you.
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