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The decision to end a marriage is one of the hardest choices most people will ever have to face. However, once it becomes clear that the marriage is over, most people will have to make a very important decision – should they file for divorce first, or should they wait for their spouse to do it?

In addition to the emotional benefits of being the “dumper” and not the “dumped,” filing for divorce first gives you a measure of control that you might not otherwise have. If you are the one who is asking for divorce, you can take the time to line up the right team to help you instead of having to rush to meet a deadline. This team should for sure include an experienced attorney, but you might also want to consider talking with a financial expert and a vocational counselor.

Filing first will also allow you to be more well-prepared. As soon you start thinking about divorce, make a point to gather up all the documents you will need. This includes statements from your credit card, bank and brokerage accounts as well as tax returns, insurance policies, vehicle titles and real estate records. Having these documents ready ahead of time will make the divorce process much less stressful.

You should also start setting aside money as soon as you think a divorce is in your future. You want to make sure you are able to make an appropriate investment in your future. However, be sure that you aren’t inadvertently hiding assets while you do this.

If you have any questions about getting ready for divorce, it is always helpful to talk them over with an experienced divorce attorney.

Source: Forbes, “What Are The Financial And Legal Advantages Of Being First To File For Divorce” Jeff Landers, March 26, 2013

Our law firm helps people file for divorce in Louisiana. For more information, please visit our website.