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Five Things To Know Before Getting an Orange County Divorce in 2020
The holidays are over and a new decade is starting. It’s a fact that new divorce filings slow down during the holidays and rise after the start of a new year as people look to make a fresh start, improve themselves, and in some cases, leave a toxic or irreparably broken relationship. Here are five things to know if it looks like divorce may be on the horizon for you in 2020.
- Take the time to really pause and consider whether your marriage can be saved. No matter how good you make out in a divorce settlement, at the end the day a settlement always divides one “pie” into two and keeping a similar standard of living (financially speaking) to the marriage is usually the best case scenario for both parties. Still, if your relationship has become abusive, toxic, or you are both truly irreconcilable, then go ahead and don’t let regrets stop you from moving on to the next chapter of your life.
- Get your documents together. Make copies of everything and put it somewhere safe only you have access to, like a safety deposit box. Some documentation you can start gathering includes:
- Income Tax Returns
- Paycheck stubs
- Employment Records
- Financial Records
- Investment Account Statements
- Pension Plan Information
- Life Insurance Policies
- Retirement Savings Accounts
- Children’s Bank Accounts
- Debt Records
- Wills and Trust Agreements
- Social Security Statements
- Find the best attorney you can and have a sit down with them ASAP. Read the reviews from other people who’ve hired your attorney! Once you’ve found the right attorney, it’s important to hire them first and have a sit down as soon as possible so you can plan your next move.
- Resolve to have a healthy coparenting relationship and to keep it positive with your ex-spouse and other important people in your child’s life. No matter what your feelings are, you owe it to your children to keep things as healthy and positive as possible with your ex.
- Don’t move out of the primary residence where you and the children live without consulting an attorney first. The courts have the final say in who gets primary custody of the children and ownership of the marital home, but you do yourself no favors by leaving before negotiations start. Talk with an attorney before you make any big moves.
Do you have a divorce or family law question?
Call our office today. John A. Bledsoe is Orange County’s premier divorce attorney and a certified family law specialist. Our firm offers a confidential initial case evaluation. Call 949-889-1227 to learn more.
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