If your marriage is not working out the way it should, you might be starting to think about that "d" word: Divorce. Divorces are becoming more and more common and in spite of this most people aren't sure how to get a divorce. They know that they will most likely need a lawyer, but after that they aren't sure how to proceed. Here is how to get a divorce:
The first step in our how to get a divorce tutorial is to ask you: are you sure that this is the only option? Have you tried therapy, couples counseling, a long vacation to "get back on track", a trial separation? Divorce doesn't always have to be final-there are some couples who do get back together, but before dropping the "d" bomb on your partner, you need to make sure that this is what you really want.
Do you really need a lawyer? If it is likely that the split is going to be amicable, then you might be able to save some time and money by doing your divorce yourself. Even if you think that you will be able to work everything out, it is a good idea to sit down and have a consultation conversation with an attorney, just in case. Some couples also use the same lawyer to broker their divorce, because there is little to no contest over the terms. One thing is for sure, you will need to have someone with legal expertise check over all of your paperwork to make sure it has been done correctly.
Make sure you have documentation on everything, even items that are not contested. This means each person having handy official identification, address information, their marriage information (the date and the county they were married in), all previous marriage information for both parties, copies of any sort of domestic contract or prenuptial agreement, and the dates and information about any reconciliation attempts and/or marriage counseling. You will also want to have all of your financial records together including the tax returns for you and your spouse and any other IRS related information, proof of your current income, a list of all of the major assets and liabilities and any credit or mortgage applications. Having documentation for all of this will speed the process along considerably.
There are many steps to the divorce process, but the best way to prove that your marriage is no longer working is by proving that you are "living separate and apart," and by having a Separation agreement which works out all of the initial settlement issues of a divorce.
It can take a long time for a divorce to be finalized. There is more to it than signing a few papers and dividing up your stuff. It is something that you need to be very sure about. Hopefully this starter course on how to get a divorce has given you some insight as to how to begin the process, and your attorney or paralegal will be able to help you through the rest of the court processes.
It May Not Be Too Late To Win Them Back
