It’s never too early to start preparing for your divorce in Pennsylvania. Even if you and your spouse haven’t made it official, you can start closing accounts, gathering documents and taking steps to make the divorce as quick and painless as possible. Here are some tips for getting ready for your divorce.
What to do to get ready for divorce proceedings
When the divorce is finalized, you may end up with a portion of your former spouse’s debts. This can make it harder to open a credit card or take out a loan, especially if you don’t have any credit in your own name. This is a good time to take out a credit card in your name only and start building up your credit score.
If you are still speaking to your spouse, you should also close any joint credit card accounts before you start the divorce proceedings. It’s not unheard of for someone to rack up a massive amount of debt to try to get back at his or her spouse. If you can’t pay off the debt you owe, you can at least have the accounts frozen, so neither you nor your former spouse can use your credit cards.
You should also avoid moving out of the house until the divorce is completed. If you move out before the divorce starts, the judge may assume that you don’t have much interest in the house and give the property to your spouse instead. Additionally, try to avoid posting on social media and engaging in any behaviors that your former spouse could use against you in court. This may sound obvious, but some people will try anything to get a better share of the assets.
When should you hire an attorney?
You should hire an attorney as soon as you know that divorce is inevitable. If you try to get a divorce without an attorney, the process could easily become a convoluted legal mess. A lawyer could help you gather financial documents, make an inventory of your assets and figure out the best way to proceed.
