divorce planning

Your trusted St. Louis family law attorney will understand the road ahead and ensure that your rights and the best interests of your children are protected.

For many people, the idea of preparing for divorce seems odd. How does one prepare for something they never expected to happen? Thankfully, your St. Louis family law attorney can help guide you through the early stages of your divorce.

The first step is asking, “is my marriage irrevocably damaged?” If you and your spouse believe your marriage can be saved, then a divorce is not the right answer. In this situation, you would likely file for a legal separation. However, whether filing a legal separation or a divorce, the following will be useful.

What You’ll Need

You will need to collect all the necessary documentation. Some of the items you will need include:

• Your most recent paystubs for the last three months, three years of tax returns and w-2’s, as well as any documentation that may either prove your allegations or disprove your spouse’s assertions. By doing so, you are providing your attorney with a concrete narrative. While Missouri is a no-fault state, the judge may take into consideration inappropriate allocations of family resources. These can include money spent on a third partner.

• If you have children, you will want to know how much is spent on childcare expenses. This ranges from afterschool activities, childcare, college funds, etc. Also, come prepared with copies of your bank statements, mortgage payments, car loans, and any other property of value or personal importance.

• You will also want to know your spouse’s employer address, social security number, and bank account information. For many, this seems like an easy task. If you are not handling finances for the family, you may need more time to find and collect this data.

Contact a St. Louis Family Law Attorney

The most important step, of course, is contacting your local Missouri Lawyer. Through a consultation, you can get a better grasp of what to expect. Your trusted St. Louis family law attorney will understand the road ahead and ensure that your rights and the best interests of your children are protected.