Preparing Your Divorce Mindset

Episode 8: George S. Lamb is a Louisville divorce attorney. Today, he discusses the process of preparing your divorce mindset. There are issues you’ll need to consider. He'll add his perspective to help you prepare for this process and the future.

The Seasonality of Divorce Filings
The number of divorce filings tends to decrease toward the end of the year and increase as the new year gets underway. The beginning of a new year is a natural catalyst for divorce filings.

One reason is the holidays. There may be an unwillingness to make the situation public during the get-togethers.

Starting a new year can be an emotional trigger that often leads one or both spouses to decide to end the marriage and move forward. Sometimes it's a decision by one spouse. It can be a decision reached by both spouses. Either way, the seasons often relate to the process of preparing your divorce mindset.

The Impact of the Family-Fiscal Calendar
The lives of most families or households typically run on a calendar. The same goes for the tax year and the school year. There’s a natural way of looking at life as January through December. The number of divorce filings naturally follow a similar orientation.

Episode 3 focused on divorce planning. It would be good episode to listen to.

If the couple has school-aged children the end of a calendar year is basically the middle. Filing for divorce at the beginning of the upcoming year would provide time to plan for how this would affect where the children will attend school, at the start of the new school year.

Finances and Jobs Factor into Preparing Your Divorce Mindset
Finances are always a significant issue in divorces. There will be two homes with utility bills, maintenance, property taxes, etc.

Companies make promotions at the end of the year. Conversely, many companies do layoffs in the 4th quarter, so this may have impacted one spouse. Job-related relocation decisions may have to be made by the start of the new year.

Preparing for the Time It Will Take to Get Divorced
The divorce process usually isn't quick. If there are limited assets, no children and agreement on the major issues, a divorce can proceed more quickly. However, if children and other key factors are involved, you should expect at least several months. The court will require a 60-day separation before granting a divorce order, if children are involved.

Reaching agreement on the division of assets and debts, establishing parenting time arrangements and child support are the types of key factors that take time. Agreeing on spousal maintenance, the division of retirement accounts and other issues also take time to properly address.

The legal process itself also takes time. Filing petitions and responses require time. Exchanging financial disclosures also takes time to review. Is a family-owned business involved? Does one of the spouses own a business? There’s a process of reaching a proper, business valuation.

In Jefferson County, you'll be required to go through mediation. The give-and-take during a mediation can help to reach agreements on some or all of the issues. There's value in the couple having more control during the mediation, as compared to risking a judge’s decision on major factors impacting your life.

If the issues cannot be settled in mediation, the attorneys will get a trial date that has to be coordinated between the judge’s calendar and each of the attorneys’ calendars. It can add months to the process.

Even after all of the petitions and hearings have been completed, you’ll need to wait for the judge to make a final decision. Understanding the time required is an important part of preparing your divorce mindset.

Prepare for the Emotional Rollercoaster
The process is going to have an emotional impact on you. Put together a support system of family and friends who are willing to stand by your side as the divorce process unfolds. You might also include a therapist.

Work with Your Attorney, not against Him or Her
Don’t be embarrassed to ask about issues or legal procedures you don’t understand. You and your attorney need to be on the same page.

If you’re thinking about taking a certain action or making an important decision, run it by your attorney. It may help you avoid doing something that could make your case more difficult.

Divorce is often emotionally charged. A knee-jerk reaction may do more harm than good. Your attorney will help you to achieve more of your goals in the long run.

Is It Time to Contact George?
Call and/or text George on his cell phone: [phone].

Information provided is not meant to be legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

Lamb & Lamb, PSC Address: 4310 Robards Lane, in Louisville.
Office phone number: [phone]