If you haven’t yet talked to your spouse about getting a divorce but think you would like one in the future, it’s a good idea to take steps to prepare. Doing this will help you reduce your stress level so that it’s easier to handle the divorce in the future.
Divorces are stressful by nature. You’ll need to work through property division decisions and potentially custody arrangements (if you have children). You might have to decide who keeps the family home or your shared pet.
The thing to remember is that collaborating and working together will help make this process go more smoothly. Setting yourself up for success begins with making sure you really want a divorce and then taking steps to prepare for that decision. Here are three things you can do to further reduce stress once you’ve decided that a divorce is right for you.
- Start collecting your financial documents
One of the first things to do is to start collecting your financial documents. Collect information on your stocks, checking and savings accounts and other financial items. Get copies, because you will need to disclose these items.
- Talk to an attorney
The next step is to talk to an attorney. You should discuss your goals, such as keeping the family home or setting up a certain custody plan, so that your attorney knows what you want. They may be able to help guide you through the decision-making process and give you good insight on what to expect.
- Get professional mental health support
Finally, consider hiring a therapist for the months ahead. You may be committed to making this divorce as painless as possible, but there is still a chance that your spouse will be upset or cause disputes. It’s helpful to have a therapist or other person there to talk to you when your stress levels get high. That way, you can work through your own emotions and keep them in check.
Divorces are stressful for many people, but you can take steps to manage your stress levels and get through the divorce more easily.