Divorce is a daunting prospect, especially as a nonworking woman who relies on her former spouse for income. However, financial security is not a life sentence. You have a right to the kind of marriage you desire—and financial concerns alone should not keep you from seeking a divorce. Yet separating from your spouse will be stressful. How can you survive—and come through the experience stronger?
Here are our top tips:
- Think objectively, not emotionally. This is easy to say and hard to do, but so necessary. The decisions you make right now will affect the rest of your life—and the lives of your children. Try to remain practical and avoid acting vindictively.
- Keep your cool. Your former spouse’s divorce attorney could use an outburst of emotion or loss of temper against you in divorce proceedings to argue against an award of custody or other matters. Your conduct matters before a judge.
- Get the help you need. Seek out an experienced family law attorney and any financial experts you require to gain the knowledge you need about your family’s finances to equip you for court. Reach out to friends and family for emotional support and love. Seek the guidance of a therapist to help you deal with difficult emotional issues. This is a difficult time. Accept the help you need.
- Fix your gaze on the future. Divorce is difficult, but it won’t last forever. There is life after divorce, and there is no reason why that life can’t be incredibly fulfilling and successful. Think about that life as you make your decisions. Focus on the positive outcome, not the difficult journey.
- Stay organized. Divorce requires many documents, records and appointments. Make sure that you have a secure system for keeping track of your information—a system that your spouse cannot access.
- Educate yourself. Learn about your finances and your estate plan. Talk with your lawyer about Connecticut’s divorce laws and how they apply to your situation so that there are minimal surprises in court.
These guidelines for navigating divorce will serve you well. Remember, you may be ending one part of your life, but you are also beginning another. Following these tips will ensure you start off on the right foot.