Divorces are emotionally charged, and it’s normal for both parties to have periods of time when they cannot communicate well. However, it is in your best interests to do what you can to make this a peaceful separation if possible. If there is anger between you and your spouse, it will make things harder.
Instead of approaching a divorce as a way to punish or be punished, look at it as a business opportunity. You have an opportunity to fight for what you want and to look after your own interests. If you have children, you’ll need to fight for their best interests as well. If not, then you’re in a position where you only need to worry about your own interests moving forward.
What should you do to protect yourself during divorce?
To start with, you should always go through your assets. You need to pull your credit report as well as your spouse’s report, get copies of digital assets such as bank accounts and start to list out assets you have in your home or possession. Creating a list of assets gives you a good idea about what you can seek during the divorce as well as which assets are more likely to be worth more and require more thorough negotiations.
Remember that you are not obligated to take any settlement your spouse offers, especially if you don’t think it’s fair. Your attorney is there to help you negotiate, but if you and your spouse can’t agree, then your attorney will help you take the case to trial. There, a judge will make a final determination on who gets which assets. In most cases, it’s better to settle outside court unless your spouse is completely unreasonable.