Preparing for Divorce in Orange County
Three Significant Aspects of Divorce
Divorce is a challenging process both financially and emotionally. Even
if you and your spouse are fairly content with the prospect of separation,
issues concerning child custody and division of property can rouse resentment
and frustration when you least expect it. By fully preparing yourself for the
divorce proceedings, you will be able to handle any discrepancies that may arise. At The Law
Office of Bruce C. Bridgman, we are fully invested in your divorce from
the moment you hire our firm. We will help you anticipate all that your
divorce will require of you, so that you can feel confident and prepared.
It is important to consider these three critical aspects of your divorce:
#1: Hire an Experienced Divorce Lawyer
If you are considering a divorce without a lawyer, you could face a number
of difficulties. Before your divorce can be finalized, you must outline
a settlement agreement with your spouse. This document will detail all
of the decisions that you and your spouse have made, from division of
property and debt to
child custody and
child support. You and your spouse may be in total accord over the settlement agreement,
but if it is written in such a way that confuses or displeases the judge,
you may be required to start from scratch, or the judge could intervene
and settle the divorce against your best wishes.
A competent divorce attorney will know how to complete this settlement
agreement in a way that prevents any backlash in court. Ideally, you should
interview three divorce attorneys before cutting anyone a check. You want
a lawyer with at least five years of experience, but, above all, they
must be prepared to settle your case quickly and fight for you if necessary.
Attorney Bruce C. Bridgman has
over 30 years of family law experience, and his team of divorce lawyers is prepared to take your case to court.
Call now to set up a
free case evaluation with our firm.
#2: Make a List of Property and Debts
One of the first steps of your divorce will be the
division of property and debt. Here, you will take a look at any joint bank accounts and determine
if you will split the account down the middle or if you will take on one
account and your spouse will acquire another. If one of these accounts
contains more money than the other, your spouse may take a vehicle or
other assets to cover the difference. Most couples begin this process
by making a list of all properties and debts. In order to complete this
list without dispute, you and your spouse will need to be as thorough
as possible.
Prepare for this by gathering any financial documents you have kept on
file including:
- Tax returns
- Bank statements
- Receipts
- Mortgage statements
- Car titles
#3: Be On Your Best Behavior
Before, during and after your divorce, it is important to watch what you
say and do. This is a time when you will be under scrutiny, particularly
in the face of hotly contested issues. It is important to be careful of
how you conduct yourself, both personally and professionally, during these
times. This is especially important if you and your spouse are struggling
to agree on issues like child custody. Be mindful of your activity on
social media and avoid expressing any frustration you may have.
It may also be wise to avoid dating and excessive partying. You want the
judge to know that you are a responsible parent. If you don't have
an expert divorce lawyer in your corner, you may very well say or do something
that prevents you from getting the results that you desire. Our firm takes
a personal approach to each of our divorce cases. We want to get to know
you so that we can coach you through this difficult process and achieve
the best possible outcome when it is all said and done.
Contact Us Today For Your Free Consultation
At The Law Office of Bruce C. Bridgman, we know what it takes to be fully
prepared for a divorce. Whether your divorce will be settled inside or
outside of court, it is in your best interest to hire a skilled divorce
attorney to help you prepare for this difficult process. If you are still
undecided, call us for your free evaluation.
We are available 24/7 and we look forward to helping you.
Contact our law firm for more information about how you can prepare for your divorce.