Is it possible to have a successful divorce when you have a marriage with many valuable assets? The answer is a resounding, “yes.” Although there are many stigmas about divorce and perhaps the perception that all divorces involve conflict, those ideas simply are not true in 2017. Divorces are less of a stigma today than in the past, and most people see them as a sad event that was bound to happen to at least one person they know.
When you decide you want to get a divorce, don’t let the idea that you’ll be chastised hold you back. A divorce can be positive and successful for many people. Taking a few steps ahead of time can prepare you for your divorce and help it move along swiftly.
To start with, you’ll need a full disclosure of your assets and debts. Guessing isn’t good enough, so seek out copies of important paperwork. Get your W-2s, 1099s, 401(k) information and other documents together so you have them for your attorney. You should run a credit report on yourself and your spouse to make sure you don’t miss anything.
The next step, and a good place to start, is to separate out your nonmarital assets. Your personal property, like an inheritance or items you owned before marriage, should not be divided in divorce. Keep those items separate and place them on a list, so you know what they are. If you have paperwork to prove that the items are yours, keep the paperwork for the court.
Just taking these steps can make your divorce much easier. If there is an argument about a certain asset, your documentation can quickly clear up the debate.
Source: DMagazine, “A Successful Divorce? It’s Possible.,” Michael Wysocki, accessed Sep. 28, 2017
