253-357-5395
Call Us Anytime: Phones Answered 24/7

Experienced. Innovative. Trusted.

Group photo of the attorneys and staff members at Clement Law Center

How to protect yourself if your spouse is filing for divorce

 

Because of the complex nature of many divorces, it is important that those going through the process receive advice tailored for their specific situation.

There are few couples who would say that they have never had a disagreement during their marriage. In fact, most of these couples would more than likely have a story about a rough patch that they encountered while married, and how this event made their relationships stronger.

Not every couple is able to make it through the tough times. Some individuals may start thinking about the various options that might be available, including spending time apart from their spouses, or possibly even filing for divorce. They may not even have any discussions about divorce prior to filing, because they know that the decision will cause even more arguments.

Many people do not know what to do when they receive notice that their spouse has filed for divorce. They are confused and hurt, wondering who they should talk to in order to get the help they need. They have no idea about some of the issues that they will need to resolve as part of the divorce, and they might make very poor decisions early on in the process.

The early stages of a divorce are a critical time for both parties. The couple will have to find an agreement concerning property division and child custody matters, and this can be very difficult for those individuals who no longer trust one another. If the filing spouse has not prepared for these challenges, it might be impossible to collect the information needed to support their claims. They might have a much more difficult time convincing the court that they should be allowed to receive certain marital property.

If you believe that divorce may be in your future, your very first step should be to talk to an experienced family law attorney to learn more about the things that you can do to ensure that you are ready for what will happen next. This will help you understand what information you need to obtain, in regards to the value of the property that you share with your spouse, so that you can protect your share of the assets during the divorce.

You might discuss your situation with others who have been through a divorce in the past, but their cases will be much different from yours. Those who have been through the process before can only tell you what happened in their specific case, and this does not take any of your unique concerns into consideration. If you rely upon their advice to make your decisions, you could be making a mistake that you will be unable to correct.