8. Interview Attorneys – The choice you make is an important one, because what we do will affect the rest of your life. It is okay to interview several attorneys before making your selection – in fact, we expect it. Look for someone who is articulate in the law and procedures in your area. How knowledgeable is this attorney? What is the attorney’s track record? Is the attorney easy to understand? Do you like the support staff? And so forth. You can begin with online research in your spare time, but always speak to the attorneys, too.
9. Write Down Your Goals, and Monitor Them – We have an excellent app that helps clients sort out their goals. Everything from the house to student loans to children to pets is included. There are a lot of things to think about, and sometimes – okay, most of the time – that thinking is overwhelming. But that is okay. Write down your goals, organize them, and then talk about them with your attorney. The simple process of writing down what you want will take away most of that stress you have just thinking about filing in January.
10. Find a Confidant – Find a trustworthy family member or friend to confide in during your divorce. There will be good days, but there will also be bad ones, and you will want someone other than your attorney to talk to when those bad ones come. Go with your gut instinct.
Take these steps to prepare now, and you really could have a brand new, better year - divorce and all - in the new year.