When the decision has been made and you know that divorce is in your near future, it’s not unusual at all to be anxious about where the next steps in your life will lead you. Divorce is never an easy process, whether it’s amicable or not, and you aren’t alone in having fears about your future and changing circumstances.
While the details of your divorce are unique to your situation, there are a few common fears that most people experience as the divorce process gets underway. As experienced family law attorneys, we have had the opportunity to address many of these concerns with spouses who are going through a divorce and wanted to share some reassuring advice about two of the questions we hear most often:
How will I know what my lifestyle will be like financially after my divorce?
Many people feel some measure of guilt for wondering whether their financial situation will support them after a divorce – but in truth, this is a necessary and reasonable concern.
Although you may not know exactly how much money you’ll have at your disposal, you can prepare beforehand by creating a thorough budget of your known expenses and fill in the gaps as you go. The picture will become clearer in time and you’ll be glad you tried to account for all your future expenses in advance.
Will my share of our formerly shared assets be fair?
The more information you have about the financial details of your life with your spouse, the easier it will be to answer this question. You should take stock of all the assets that are in question and find out not only what these assets are worth, but also what they are worth to you.
Your idea of something shared “fairly” may not be as cut and dried as simply “half of everything,” and that needs to be taken into account. If your assets are complicated, it might be a good idea to speak to a financial advisor that you trust.
An experienced family law attorney can answer other questions you may have about your divorce, ease some of your anxieties about what to expect during the process and provide personalized advice that is tailored to your specific situation.