How to Prepare for Divorce: Building Your Support Team

No matter the reason behind it, divorce can be a harrowing process. Between the emotional distress, the legal mess, and the financial stress, you’re faced with an experience that can be difficult even with the best support. Divorce represents the end of one part of your life and the beginning of another, and the best way to get through this transitional period is by preparing for it as much as possible.

If you’re facing these difficult realities, we hope this checklist will help you prepare for divorce and everything that goes along with it. If you have any questions or need support from a divorce lawyer, the  Edgar & Dow will be there for you. Contact us today at (888) 251-9618 to learn more about how we can help. 

There are several things you should do to prepare for a divorce, and not all of them have to do with finances or paperwork. Instead, some of the most important preparations are personal, emotional, and physical. It’s important to take care of yourself during this trying time, and the first step towards doing that effectively is by building your support team.

Build a Divorce Support Team

Who do you turn to when you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to rant to? Your first thought might be close friends or family, and they’re an incredibly important part of your support team. However, when it comes to your emotional health, it’s very helpful to have a professional to lean on, like a counselor. Depending on the trauma that you may experience as you move through your divorce, you may only need one session or to set up a regular meeting time for deeper healing. Either way, a therapist or counselor is an integral part of your support team.

Don’t forget about your physical health! Lean on your friends to help support healthy habits during the divorce process, like eating nutritious meals or going for a walk after work. And, just as importantly, don’t let loneliness get the best of you. Make plans with friends to help yourself stay busy, a little distracted, and more connected.

If you have children, consider how the divorce is affecting them. Oftentimes, kids are used as bargaining chips in divorce proceedings, with parents using them to get back at each other without considering the children themselves. It’s important to know that your children are not on your support team throughout this process; you’re on theirs. The way that you act can influence their lives dramatically, which gives you the opportunity to show them how to grieve in an age-appropriate way. The most important role that you can play in your children’s lives during a divorce and otherwise is that of a loving and supportive parent. Let them hear the words “I love you” every day and help build a support team for them and their experiences throughout the divorce.

Are you ready consider moving forward with your divorce? With a strong family lawyer by your side, you’ll be better equipped to weather the ups and downs of the next steps. To learn more about how to prepare for divorce, contact the Edgar & Dow at (888) 251-9618.