Divorce is exceedingly common in Arizona and across the country. In fact, in 2019 alone, almost a million couples decided to end their marriages. While you probably know at least one person who has gone through a divorce, calling it quits may be new to you.
Because you must make decisions that affect virtually every aspect of your life, it may be easy to let divorce overwhelm you. Still, you do not have to lose control. Here are three tips for making sure your divorce case proceeds as smoothly as possible.
1. Tell your attorney everything
Every marriage and divorce has some ugly parts. While you may find something to be embarrassing, you should not keep anything from your divorce attorney. Even if you think a subject is irrelevant or unnecessary to discuss, you likely want to mention it to your attorney and let him or her decide.
2. Inventory personal and marital assets
You and your soon-to-be ex-spouse must divide marital property during your divorce. Regrettably, divorcing spouses sometimes try to hide assets from each other. By inventorying your personal and marital assets before filing for divorce, you protect yourself financially. Likewise, obtaining financial records as early as possible usually makes sense.
3. Think about custody of your kids
If you have children, your divorce is also likely to require a custody determination. In Arizona, judges consider the best interests of the kids when making custody-related orders. Still, you probably have the option of negotiating a custody arrangement outside the courtroom.
While the end of your marriage can be scary, you do not want to let fear dissuade you from taking control of your divorce. Ultimately, by being proactive, you may boost your chances of receiving the outcome you want.