Doing The Work Behind The Scenes
Preparing for a divorce involves more than just collecting papers. You must prepare yourself emotionally, mentally and financially. My name is Robin Jill Schneider. I have been helping people with family law and divorce cases for over 40 years, and I am a New Jersey Supreme Court-certified matrimonial law attorney. I know how you can prepare for divorce and what you can expect at each stage, and I can help smooth out any bumps along the way.
Gathering Documents Is A Critical Step
You will need to gather all your basic financial documents as well as those of your spouse. At the Robin Jill Schneider law firm, I recommend that you gather these documents well ahead of time so that your spouse does not start hiding their financial information. Important documents include:
- W-2s from employment
- 1099-MISC forms from all accounts or freelance work
- Pay stubs from a current job
- Real estate records
- Investment and retirement records
These documents will allow you to plan for the division of your property and determine whether child support or spousal support are appropriate in your situation. Is your spouse self-employed? Make copies of bank records, work orders and invoices, if you can.
Helping Your Children Prepare For Divorce
Preparing your children for divorce takes time and patience. Consider involving a therapist to help your children work through the questions and issues they will have. Everyone in the family may benefit from therapy, but children have the fewest tools to cope with the changes, and they generally have the least amount of control over the situation.
Remember that you should never put your children in the middle of your disagreements with your spouse or bad-mouth the other spouse in front of your children. They love and need both their parents throughout the divorce process and afterward.
Let Me Help You Prepare
You need a lawyer you can trust during this difficult time. I will be there for you every step of the way. Call my Matawan office – serving Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties – today at 732-812-4944 or send my firm a message to set up your free attorney consultation.
