I Have Decided I'm Definitely Divorcing In 2016. Is There Anything I Should Do Now That Will Make The Process Easier In Florida?

You are in good company - divorce filings typically surge in January. People often want a clean start in the new year, and also may want to wait until after the holidays to file for divorce in order to make it easier for their kids. Planning ahead always makes any divorce easier.

You should never file for divorce without researching the implications. You will want to talk to both an attorney and a certified financial planner. Your attorney can tell you what you are likely to be awarded in the divorce, including property, alimony, and child support. A certified financial planner can examine your budget and, using numbers provided by your attorney, help you figure out a financial game plan moving forward. In addition, you may also want to speak with a counselor, particularly if children are involved. Although it can be tempting to file quickly based on emotion, you may change your mind once you examine the facts.

If, after speaking to the experts, you are determined to move ahead, you should begin gathering your financial records. This will include documentation on your joint and individual bank accounts and brokerage accounts, 401k’s and IRAs, social security statements, life insurance policies, real estate, and other assets.

You should also make sure to get rid of any embarrassing information that could be used against you in a divorce, especially if you anticipate the divorce becoming hostile. This could include incriminating messages via text, email, or Facebook, files on your computers, letters, or anything else that could lead to trouble in the divorce proceeding.