How do I start the divorce process?

Starting the Divorce Process

Divorce is a very sensitive topic for all parties involved, but it is important to tackle these challenges head-on with the help of an experienced divorce attorney. However, before you can begin the legal divorce process, there are some preliminary steps you will want to take.

Actions to Take

The first step in a divorce is having a meaningful and comprehensive discussion with your current spouse. Divorce is not something to be taken lightly, and you need to talk about every potential consequence of your decision, both positive and negative. Important talking points to bring up in this conversation include: child custody, division of assets, and property settlement. You will agree on some things and disagree on others, but it is important to have some sort of dialogue before officially filing for divorce.

Other Factors

If you and your spouse have children, the next thing you should do is explain your pending separation to them in a logical manner. To do this, you need to set aside at least one hour to hear all of the questions and concerns that your children will likely have. Depending on their age, they may not even quite understand the topic. When this conversation arrives, you need to start with the basics. Explain to your children that both you and your spouse love them very much, and reassure them that things will only get better moving forward.

After talking to your children, you can begin to tell other immediate family members and close friends of your decision to divorce. Do not tell anybody that you would not trust with this information. Your future will be affected by this decision, and you should only be notifying people who play a direct role in your daily life.

Speak with an Experienced Alabama Attorney

Finally, you need to consult with a trusted and experienced attorney. Divorce cases are extremely complex, and you need an attorney who will take a personal interest in your case to get you the result you deserve. Child custody, division of assets, and every other aspect of your divorce case will be dependent on the case being made by your attorney in a court of law. When consulting with an Alabama divorce attorney, be sure to give them as much information about your marriage as possible. After the consultation, your attorney will inform you of the next steps that need to be taken, and your divorce case will proceed from there. Contact an experienced divorce attorney at Martinson & Beason, P.C. today to get started.