Getting divorced is tough. Emotionally, legally, financially, and on just about every other front as well. But as if that isn’t enough, now you’ve got to move out and start life over. And it’s not just the packing and relocating that’s time consuming and frustrating. You have to figure out what you can take and what you have to leave. Where you’re going to go. What you can afford. And if you have kids, that’s a whole different set of decisions you’ll need to make.
Here at The Kronzek Firm, we understand how much you have on your plate right now, and how overwhelmed you probably feel. So we’ve created this simple list for you, which hopefully will help ease some of your stress during this time. Maybe it’ll even give you a few things to consider that you hadn’t thought about yet.
Before preparing for life after divorce, you should:
- Talk to your attorney first
There are all kinds of things that can actually complicate the divorce process. You may not realize it at the time, but everything from deciding what to take with you, and whether or not you should even relocate to a new home, can have a huge impact on the outcome of your divorce.
So before you decide that your soon-to-be-ex doesn’t deserve Aunt Bertha’s antique clock collection, or that it’s totally fine for you to put the down payment of your new apartment on your joint credit card, call your divorce lawyer. They can help you figure out the next steps that won’t complicate your future, or cost you a bundle in the end.
- Use the opportunity to purge
Assuming your attorney says it’s okay for you to move out, why notuse this opportunity to get rid of all those clothes you never wear anymore. Or that collection of lidless tupperware you’ve slowly accumulated in the kitchen. Or the boxes of stray lego pieces and crunchy stuffed toys your kids will never play with again.
If you’re going to have to move, it’s a perfect opportunity to clean house and get rid of all those unnecessary items every homeowner seems tocollect along the way (despite their best intentions). It’ll make the moving process easier for you, and it’ll help with that “fresh start” feeling that you so desperately need right now.
- Figure out your finances
Yes, we know, this is a tough one. And often a scary one too. Figuring out how to go from a two income household to a single income home is frightening. But you can’t go anywhere or do anything until you know what your budget is. Sit down and look at what you earn. Discuss with your attorney what you can expect to receive, or pay out, in alimony and child support payments.
Then create a list of the bills you’ll have to pay each month, including your car payment, rent, monthly bills, and all those unavoidable living costs, like gas and groceries. This will help you figure out where you can afford to live, which is critical at this stage in the process.
Divorce is scary, but you don’t have to do this alone!
This is going to be one of the hardest things you’ve ever done in life. Picking up the pieces and starting over from scratch after a marriage falls apart is a daunting change. But you don’t have to (and shouldn’t!) do it alone. We’re here to help.
At The Kronzek Firm, our skilled and understanding family law attorneys are available 24/7 to navigate this complex and overwhelming process. All you have to do is call 866 766 5245 to ensure that you’re on a great team. And don’t forget to join us next time for the rest of our list. It may not seem like much, but every little bit of planning you do ahead of time can make a big difference in the long run.