10 Steps You Can Take Now to Prepare for Your Divorce in Pennsylvania

If you are considering a divorce or your spouse has said that he or she intends to end your marriage, you must begin preparing for the divorce process. While it can be challenging to get started, preparing is essential—it will help ensure the process is as smooth and amicable as possible.

It will also help ensure that you achieve a fair outcome that does not leave any issues unresolved.

Regardless of your family and financial circumstances, it will be vital for you to work with an experienced divorce lawyer throughout the process. To ensure that you are preparing effectively and seeing everything that requires your consideration, you will need an experienced lawyer on your side. With this in mind, once you’ve read this list of steps to take when contemplating a divorce, we invite you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What To Do if You Are Contemplating a Divorce

What should you do if you are contemplating a divorce? Here are ten steps you can take now to prepare for your divorce in Pennsylvania:

1. Create an Inventory of Your Assets

Unless you have a nuptial agreement that says otherwise, you and your spouse must divide your marital assets during your divorce. With this in mind, now is an excellent time to create an inventory of your assets. You should do your best to write down everything you own—including real estate and other physical items, financial accounts, and digital assets.

When you create your inventory, you should also note when you and/or your spouse acquired each asset (to the extent you can). This is because while “marital” assets are subject to distribution during the divorce process, “separate” assets are not. While there are important exceptions, “separate” assets generally include those one spouse owned before the marriage or acquired by gift or inheritance.

2. Write Down a List of Your Debts

Along with creating an inventory of your assets, you should also write down a list of your debts. Your “marital” debts will also be subject to distribution in your divorce (unless you have a marital agreement that says otherwise).

3. Make Sure You Know Your Passwords

Now is also an excellent time to ensure you know the passwords for your bank accounts, retirement accounts, cryptocurrency accounts, digital photo and movie libraries, and other digital assets. You will need this information during your divorce and want to ensure you can access the assets you keep once your marriage ends.

4. Learn About the Divorce Process

There are several steps in the divorce process, and familiarizing yourself with these steps can help you feel more comfortable and confident along the way. Even if you hire a divorce lawyer to represent you (which you should), you will still need to play an active role at every stage. You can read What to Expect During the Divorce Process in Pennsylvania for a brief introduction to the divorce process.

5. Learn About the Key Aspects of Your Divorce

In addition to learning about the divorce process, you will also want to learn about the critical aspects of your divorce. For most spouses, the divorce process has four key elements:

• Property distribution
• Spousal support
• Child support
• Child custody

Each aspect involves different legal issues and practical considerations, and individual spouses’ goals, priorities, and needs will vary widely. As you navigate the divorce process, the key will be to focus on your wants and needs so that you can make informed decisions with your long-term best interests in mind.

6. Start Collecting the Documents You Will Need

From financial to property records, you must collect several documents for your divorce. Since this can take some time, we recommend starting the process now, and you can use this checklist to ensure you are collecting everything you need.

7. Start Thinking About Your Priorities

From deciding which of your “marital” assets are most important to you to decide which holidays you most want to spend with your children, you must make several difficult decisions during your divorce. To ensure you are prepared to make these decisions when the time comes, you should start thinking about your priorities now. It can also be helpful to think about your spouse’s priorities, as this will help you determine when a compromise is necessary.

8. Consider Your Options Carefully

You will have options concerning nearly every aspect of your divorce. You will have options for dividing your marital assets, structuring your (or your spouse’s) financial support obligations, and dividing your parenting time post-divorce. At this stage, you should consider your options carefully and avoid prematurely dismissing potential solutions acceptable to you and your spouse.

9. Write Down a List of Questions

By now, we’re sure that you have lots of questions. It would be best if you wrote down your questions to ask them during your free consultation.

10. Schedule a Free Consultation with a Divorce Lawyer

Once again, if you are preparing to go through a divorce in Pennsylvania, having an experienced divorce lawyer on your side will be essential. The first step toward hiring a lawyer is to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Request an Appointment with Stroudsburg Divorce Lawyer Gary J. Saylor, II, Esq.

To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Stroudsburg divorce lawyer Gary J. Saylor, II, call us at 570-620-5478 or online. We will arrange for you to speak with Mr. Saylor confidently at a convenient time.