How To Get A Divorce

If you’re wondering how to get a divorce, here’s the information you need to know to help prepare yourself for the process, with suggestions on how to afford a divorce, the steps involved in getting a divorce, how to reach a divorce agreement, and more. 

In This Divorce Guide:

How to Prepare for a Divorce

How to Afford a Divorce

Things to Keep in Mind When Getting Divorced

Types of Divorce / Alternatives to Divorce

How to Get a Divorce / The Steps of Divorce 

Reaching a Divorce Agreement 

Post-Divorce Issues

How to Prepare for a Divorce

If you are just considering getting a divorce, you have time to plan out how to proceed and be able to organize everything you'll need. These articles can also help you when your husband announces he wants a divorce and you don't know what you should focus on first. Here are some things to keep in mind before you start the legal process:

Preparing For A Divorce - Things to consider before you actually file for a divorce, including getting all the documents together, how to help secure your financial future, seeking legal counsel and more.

Pre-divorce Advice - If you're considering leaving your spouse, you need to create an exit plan before you file for a divorce to help you prepare for your post-divorce life. 

Crucial Steps to Take Before Divorce - If there is no hope for your marriage and you know divorce is inevitable, here is what you need to do to get prepared for the process.

10 Financial Tips for Women Considering Divorce – Your financial future is at stake, so it pays to know your financial status as a married couple. Not only can it help you negotiate a settlement, but it can help you prepare for your post-divorce finances.

Financial Documents Needed for Divorce - Find out why it's important to locate and make copies of your financial documents as soon as possible. These are the records you should try to secure before you file.

How Men Handle Divorce - Reactions can vary from resignation to total shock and even worse. Find out how to cope if he goes ballistic.

Tips to Stop Divorce - What options do you have if you want to stop the divorce or if your husband wants a divorce but you don’t.

Post Marital Agreement Tips - Couples will sometimes draw up a post-marital agreement in anticipation of a divorce. Here are some mistakes to avoid when preparing a postnuptial agreement.

Should You Sign that Joint Tax Return - While you can file your taxes jointly with your husband while separated or before a divorce is finalized, it might not always be the best idea. Find out why.

How to Afford a Divorce

The cold hard facts are that getting divorced can be expensive. Here are some tips and suggestions to make it more affordable:

Is Do It Yourself Divorce a Good Idea? - Find out how to get a divorce without a lawyer and get tips for representing yourself.

Can You Afford Divorce in Hard Times? - When the economy is really tight, here are some factors you need to consider when deciding if divorce is the best answer. You'll also get tips on keeping expenses down if you choose to divorce.

Minimizing The Cost of Divorce - different approaches to save money and what needs to be considered with each option.

How to Afford a Divorce When You Have No Money - There are ways to get a divorce when your funds are limited. The legal expert offers insight on the different options available.

When a Divorce Loan Makes Sense - If finances are a factor in deciding whether or not you can divorce, a divorce loan may be an option to consider.

How to save on the Cost of a Divorce - Are you wondering how to get a divorce as cost-effectively as possible? Here are some helpful tips to help you cut your legal fees.

The Pitfalls of a Cheap Divorce - If your bank account won't cover the cost of hiring a divorce lawyer, you might be tempted to cut corners and use a low-cost service to prepare your paperwork. But you should think about the possible downsides before you proceed.

Things to Keep in Mind When Getting Divorced

Divorce Considerations - Here are seven essential areas to focus on when you are splitting up.

Technology and Divorce – Find out how to protect yourself regarding electronic records, cell phone data, texts, and more. 

Tips for a Better Divorce - Getting divorced can bring out the worst in people, but shifting your perception can help you reduce the drama and achieve a more amicable split.

Divorcing a Narcissist - If you’re divorcing a narcissist, don’t expect it to be easy. Your divorce will be viewed as a battle and their main focus will be winning at all costs. These tips can help.

Divorcing a Mentally Ill Husband - When a spouse is suffering with mental health issues, getting divorced can become a challenging and stressful process. Find out what to expect emotionally and legally.

How Death Impacts a Divorce or Separation - The death of a spouse can have a major effect on estate division and whether previous agreements will be honored. Get answers from the legal expert here.

Why Dating During Divorce Is Unwise - The strategic, legal, and emotional reasons you shouldn't go out with someone else before your divorce is finalized.

Getting Through A Divorce - There is more to divorce than just the legal process. Taking care of your emotions, physical well-being, and the practical aspects of life will help you emerge stronger.

Pet Custody - Who gets to keep the pets when a couple divorces? Find out what your legal rights are and get tips on creating a pet parenting plan.

Types of Divorce / Alternatives to Divorce

Divorce isn’t the only option when a marriage starts to starts to crumble. Some people choose to separate while deciding whether to get divorced or not. On the other hand, some couples might be able to get an annulment if their marriage qualifies. Even when divorce is inevitable, there are different ways to end the marriage, as outlined below:

What is No-Fault Divorce? – Learn the differences between a fault and no-fault divorce and what you should consider before you choose.

What is an uncontested divorce? This is an option for couples who can agree on all the issues that need to be settled in a divorce. Generally it is cheaper and quicker than a contested divorce, plus it can help reduce ongoing conflict if you’ll be co-parenting with your ex.

The 10 Key Steps in an Uncontested Divorce - Find out what you need to know about getting an uncontested divorce, including the steps to follow and when you should consult with a divorce attorney.

The Bifurcated Divorce - This process allows a couple to end their legal marital status before the actual settlement and custody issues are agreed upon and finalized. While not allowed in all states, there are advantages to this option.

Legal Separation vs. Divorce – Many couples choose to live apart while they make up their minds whether to get a divorce or not. If you’re facing this situation, should you get a legal separation? Find out how legal separation differs from divorce and weigh your options before you decide.

Marriage Annulment - You can get an annulment if it can be proven that your marriage was invalid from the start. Find out how this is determined and what is required to get an annulment.

Annulment vs. Divorce - These are the two ways to legally end your marriage, but not everyone qualifies for an annulment. Find out what the pros and cons are for each and what the requirements are.

How to Get a Divorce / The Steps of Divorce

Find out how the divorce process works, including the steps of divorce, what to expect if you go to court, why divorce takes so long, and more:

Do You Need An Attorney - These general guidelines highlight if it's appropriate to represent yourself during your divorce and the riskiest situations for self-representation. 

How to Choose a Family Lawyer - Get tips for finding and interviewing a lawyer who meshes with your personality and meets your needs.

The Divorce Process - These are the individual steps of how to get a divorce in most situations as well as what to expect during each stage of the process.

Why Divorce Takes So Long - Once you've made the decision to end it, it can seem like it takes forever to get everything finalized. Here's why.

The Steps of Divorce - There are many stages to a divorce and you will likely have a lot of questions along the way. Find the answers you need to understand what you are facing.

Testifying In Court - Here are several things you should keep in mind when testifying in divorce court: tips for how to answer questions, how to present yourself to the judge and more.

Five Divorce Mistakes To Avoid - Discover the common blunders that can seriously hurt your chances of getting a good outcome.

Dirty Divorce Tricks - Using dirty tricks to hurt your ex or gain a temporary advantage in divorce can come back to haunt you. Discover which tactics to avoid during your divorce.

Divorce in the Military - When getting a divorce in the military, you need to take into consideration military benefits, the impact of no contact orders, how custody and visitation is viewed, and more.

Reaching a Divorce Agreement

Discover how to reach a divorce agreement and how you can use mediation to avoid having to go to trial to settle everything:

Divorce Settlement Tips - Agreeing to a proposed settlement just to get it all over with can lead to a lot of headaches down the road. Find out what to look out for when negotiating your settlement so you don't have to live with the financial regrets later on.

Getting a Fair Divorce Settlement - The importance of looking ahead, because what appears to be an equitable division of assets and debts, may not be so fair in the long run.

Dividing Assets and Debts - A big part of reaching a settlement is determining how the financial issues of your marriage will be handled. Find out who will get the house, how retirement assets are divided, who will be responsible for the debts, and more.

Compromising In Divorce - Wisely choosing your battles in divorce is vital to reaching a fair settlement and being able to move on with your life.

Divorce Mediation - The benefits of mediating your divorce and who should consider it.

Mediation Basics - Find out how mediation can be used to resolve disputes without going to court and when it's not appropriate.

Divorce Mediation FAQs - Find out more about the divorce mediation process, how much it costs, and how to resolve issues that come up during mediation.

Post-Divorce Issues

There may be issues to take care of even after your divorce is finalized. Find out how to revert to your maiden name, whether you can modify your divorce decree or not, and get tips on how to enforce the terms of your divorce decree. 

Reverting to Your Maiden Name - Learn about changing your name after divorce and what to include in your divorce decree to make the process easier.

Can You Modify a Divorce Decree - Some sections of a divorce decree can be modified if circumstances change in the future. Find out what issues can be modified and how it should be approached.

Appeal or Motion to Modify Divorce Decree - If you’re wondering if your divorce decree can be changed, there are certain circumstances when it can be amended. This overview of the appeals and modification processes can help you decide which method you need to pursue.

Enforcing Divorce Decrees - Find out what you can do if your ex doesn't comply with your divorce agreement. 

Handling Financial Issues After Divorce –Here is a list of financial and estate tasks to take care of when your divorce is finally over. 

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