When you're facing divorce, you know you need to protect your assets as well as the children you may want to inherit them. That doesn't mean your divorce has to be a drawn out battle. In fact, when you have a long marriage with many complex considerations to take into account, working with your attorney step-by-step can be beneficial.
It's not uncommon for one party to become irrational during divorce, but with two different attorneys, both you and your spouse can work out the division of your assets and then negotiate any differences in opinion you have. It's important to consider having a valuation expert on hand to make sure you're getting a fair trade for any assets you are going to give to the other spouse and be sure your spouse can agree on the items you're planning to split for your children.
There are many things to consider, from retirement accounts to business assets and banking accounts. You want to make sure your property is divided fairly, not necessarily equally. Who put the most money into your marriage, who gave up time to raise children if you have them and how have both of you been affected financially throughout your marriage? Who is going to have child custody and is that person entitled to a greater portion of assets?
With the right help, you can decide on child custody issues and those affecting your net worth without having to go to court to do so. Negotiating through your attorneys and working with mediation is key to an easier divorce. Our website has more information on child custody and splitting your assets along with what you can do if you want to make sure your income and assets are protected for your children. If you have a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, this document can help you protect yourself, but if not, there are still steps you can take to make sure your divorce is fair.