Many Florida spouses feel confident that their divorce will proceed smoothly. This assumption usually comes at the end of a marriage where both parties gave their best effort, and when both spouses agree that moving on is the best possible choice. In reality, however, it is not uncommon for things to take a turn for the worse once the paperwork is filed. That is why it is so important to be proactive in preparing for property division.
Gathering the proper documentation is the first step. This includes securing proof of all income, assets and debt. It can be helpful to determine which items are held as personal property and which are marital property. Be sure to gain access to paper statements for all accounts, and never rely on electronic statements.
Spouses sometimes react poorly when they realize that the marriage is actually coming to an end. It is not uncommon for one party to limit the other’s access to formerly shared accounts, including bank accounts and credit cards. That can make it difficult to secure the financial information that is needed to get the divorce process underway, and can lead to additional legal fees.
By taking a proactive stance, Florida spouses can protect against those unfortunate outcomes. If things do go as smoothly as anticipated, having financial documentation already assembled at the beginning of the divorce process can make property division far easier to accomplish. That is an outcome that can reduce stress and keep legal fees manageable for both spouses, which is a great outcome.
Source: finance.yahoo.com, “How to keep from losing everything in a divorce, in 6 steps“, Emmie Martin, Feb. 1, 2017
