By Sheryl J Seiden, Esq.

For a spouse who recognizes that your marriage is irretrievably broken, here are a few tips to guide you through this difficult time:

• Obtain a consultation with an experienced and reputable family law attorney to understand your rights before you engage in mediation or settlement discussions with your spouse.
• Prepare a list of your assets, debts, income, expenses, and your spouse’s income, and compile statements for all accounts.
• Gather documents to provide proof of any assets that existed prior to the marriage, were gifted from third parties, or inherited.
• Monitor accounts and credit cards for excessive spending or withdrawals.
• Avoid relocating from the marital residence as this could jeopardize your custody/parenting rights and exclude you from the residence for the duration of the case.
• If your partner suffers from alcohol, drug, or mental health issues that impair their ability to parent the children, do not leave the children alone with the parent.
• Secure your privacy by ensuring that your email and social media accounts are not kept open on a shared electronic device, and by changing your passwords to all accounts.
• In order to limit the accumulation of marital assets and debts and the length of the marriage, either file for divorce or enter into a termination agreement through counsel with your spouse to limit financial exposure.
• Do not change the beneficiaries on your life insurance or modify your other insurance policies.
• Follow the legal advice provided by your counsel. If you do not trust the advice, then ask questions to obtain clarification and, if needed, obtain a second opinion.