Quarantine is causing people to make new discoveries about their spouses. Unfortunately, some are discovering fundamental incompatibilities that have them contemplating divorce. I can’t tell you whether it’s time to walk away from your marriage, or whether your frustrations will fade as lockdowns relax. But as a divorce lawyer, I can recommend five things you can do right now to best prepare yourself and potentially save countless dollars in future legal fees.
1. Set realistic expectations. Too often, I see my clients start on the path to divorce with the expectation that their lives are going to be the same as they were when they were married, just without their current spouse. The reality, for the majority of people, is that divorce will necessitate changes—sometimes major changes—in how they live, both financially and as a parent. Countless hours and dollars have been spent by parties litigating when they should have settled, seeking concessions from their spouse that just aren’t realistic. While any lawyer worth hiring will do their best to advise their clients to only litigate when it makes sense, ultimately the decision is the client’s. Make sure you’ve gone into the process understanding the reality that your life is going to have to change, in some ways, dramatically.
