Regaining control of your life through the divorce process

You’ve likely heard the statistic that roughly 50 percent of U.S. marriages eventually end in divorce. While divorce is common and a number of people you know may be divorced, it’s completely different when you’re the one who is actually going through the process.

In our last blog post, we discussed some of the key documents you’ll need to gather as you embark on the divorce process. In this post, we’ll explore aspects of the divorce process that are more personal and likely to impact one’s day-to-day life.

Once you or a spouse has filed for divorce, it’s important to make peace with this decision and look forward rather than lament past actions, decisions and failures. Of course this doesn’t mean that you won’t experience a range of ups and downs along the way. For your own mental and emotional wellbeing, it’s often a good idea to seek the guidance and advice of a professional therapist. It’s also healthy to acknowledge your feelings openly to family members and friends and to allow them to lend their love and support.

Feeling anxious and out of control of one’s life are also commonly experienced by individuals who are going through the divorce process. To help mitigate these feelings, it’s important to take steps to understand your current financial situation and to figure out how much money you’ll need to live comfortably post-divorce. Armed with this information, you can establish a household budget as well as set financial goals for your future.

When it comes to the procedural aspects of the divorce process, it’s important to note that an attorney works for you and should always be working to further your best interests. You should, therefore, feel empowered to play an active role in the process and not be afraid to ask questions, seek advice and articulate your post-divorce goals.

Source: The Huffington Post, “8 Divorce Hacks that Will Save You Time & Money,” James J. Sexton, Jan. 11, 2016

The Good Men Project, “10 tips for surviving your divorce,” Logan Stickney, Dec. 24, 2015