What Should I Do Immediately After Divorce in Goodyear, AZ?
Going through a divorce can be grueling for some couples. It can take years to complete, drain bank accounts, and stir up unwanted stress. Many people feel relieved once the courts finalize their divorces, but they’re often left wondering what to do next.
If you’re asking yourself, “What should I do immediately after divorce?” you’re not alone. Our divorce lawyers in Goodyear, AZ, from Lincoln & Wenk understand how confusing the post-divorce adjustment period can be. Here, we share some helpful tips to help you get on the right path.
Essential Legal Steps
Following your divorce, you’ll have several priorities to focus on to ensure you’re ready to embrace the next chapter in your life.
Finalize Your Divorce
When finalizing your divorce, ensure the paperwork is accurate and complete to avoid legal complications that could extend the time you spend fighting to end your marriage legally. Your paperwork may include:
- Child custody documents
- Property settlement agreements
- Alimony
Make sure you completely fill out all paperwork with your up-to-date contact information and no omissions or errors. If you need help with your paperwork or have concerns, consult with your divorce or family law attorney.
Get a Copy of Your Divorce Decree
Once you settle your divorce, obtain a few certified copies of your divorce decree. This document is proof of your legal divorce. You might need it to change your name and handle other legal business, so keep it safe.
Take Care of Other Legal Obligations Pertaining to Your Former Spouse
Sometimes, divorce agreements require couples to do specific things like refinance a real estate loan or transfer a vehicle’s ownership. You or your spouse may also need to divide or equalize a retirement plan, such as a pension, which requires filing for a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).
A QDRO is a court order that gives someone the right to a portion of their former spouse’s retirement benefits from an employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401k. Without a QDRO, the ex-spouse who’s not on the retirement plan may not receive benefits.
Financial Considerations
Going through a divorce can drain your finances. Still, when asking, “What should I do immediately after a divorce?” you must take your post-divorce finances into account.
Rebuild Your Finances
Before finalizing your divorce, it’s a good idea to reassess your assets. Sometimes a couple’s cash and assets will disappear during a divorce due to one or more parties attempting to circumvent property division. Know where you stand with your spouse financially to avoid unwanted surprises.
If you and your former spouse have joint accounts, you should close them and set up a separate bank account under your name only. Also, review any memberships or associations you and your former spouse belong to and determine what to do about them. Depending on your financial situation, you should consider budgeting your money and rebuilding your credit post-divorce.
Ensure Your Children Have Insurance
Depending on your specific situation, you might have to get new health, car, or home insurance after divorce for yourself and your children, if you have any. In most cases, the grace period for new insurance after a divorce is 30 days from the finalization date.
Understand Your Post-Divorce Tax Filing Status
When you divorce someone, your tax-filing status will eventually change. If your marriage legally ends on or before the last day of the tax year, your status will likely be head of household or single unless your divorce decree says something different. The filing status with the IRS will likely affect your tax bracket, so consult with an experienced tax professional for help the first tax year following the dissolution of your marriage.
Create or Update Your Medical Directives and Will
Regardless if you have children with your former spouse, it’s always a good idea to have a will, estate plan, or medical directives for yourself. If you already have one, consider revising it to reflect your new life changes. Otherwise, your assets and medical decisions can be in the hands of someone you wouldn’t otherwise want to have the responsibility to if you pass away or get too sick to care for yourself.
Tips for Your Social Life and Mental Health
You can’t forget about yourself in the midst of your divorce. A divorce can put a lot of stress on you, which can affect your mental health. This life change can also influence your social life and relationships with others besides your former spouse, so keep the following tips in mind to help.
Give Yourself Grace
Sometimes the answer to “What should I do immediately after divorce?” is to forgive yourself. That may be the first thing you should do after your divorce.
It’s important to understand that divorce isn’t necessarily a failure on your or your former spouse’s part. Marriages don’t always work out long-term, even when partners try their best to find a middle ground for their problems.
Instead of focusing solely on the bad things from your marriage and steps you would have taken or done differently, look back on the whole marriage. Forgive yourself for centering on the negative aspects of your relationship, and understand that some things are simply out of your control.
Avoid Bringing Your Children into Divorce Drama
When couples have children and then go through a divorce, it becomes easy to unintentionally drag the children into the mess and confusion. Divorce changes the lives of those directly impacted by the dissolution of a relationship including children. Don’t make things worse for them, your ex-partner, or yourself by speaking poorly about your ex-spouse or arguing with them around the children.
If your children are old enough to understand, talk with them to explain what’s going on. They don’t have to know the specifics of the divorce. Instead, try to assert the fact that no matter what happens with your marriage, you and your former spouse will always be there for them.
Expect Friendships to Change
People sometimes overlook a common problem with divorces: how the breakup affects social circles. When a couple has mutual friendships and then breaks up, friends may take sides, remain neutral, or end the friendship with both parties. It’s almost inevitable that a divorce will alter social circles.
It would be best to prepare yourself for feelings of hurt or betrayal when friends you thought would stay by your side would rather align themselves with your ex-spouse. Instead of focusing on the friendships you lose as a result of your divorce, remember those who always supported you no matter what. Those are the people who will help you during your healing journey.
Seek Help
It’s not uncommon for newly divorced people to experience emotional or mental health struggles while coping with divorce and adjusting to their new lives as a single person. It’s easy to succumb to your emotions when you’re mentally struggling, but you don’t have to go through this phase of life alone.
It may be best to connect with a therapist or counselor specializing in relationships, marriage, and divorce. These professionals may help you sort out your thoughts and feelings while giving you the tools to cope with your most recent life changes. If you’re not ready for therapy, consider joining a divorce support group or sharing what you’re going through with friends or family.
Talking with others who have your best interests at heart can help you feel more comfortable and excited about your new life. You don’t have to go through your post-divorce period alone without help.
Stay Positive
After your divorce, you might find yourself thinking about negative things like your new living situation, being alone, not having the same financial status as you had during your marriage, and so on. These thoughts can cause your mental health to spiral. Staying positive is the best way to combat unwanted negative thoughts.
Whenever you feel like you’re in a negative head space, start thinking about all the good things in your life. You can also try the following to improve your mindset into something positive:
- Make a list of everything you’re grateful for, and look at it when you feel down.
- Do one small thing every day for yourself, like reading a book or cooking your favorite meal.
- Celebrate your victories and accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem.
- Start a new exercise regimen to boost your self-image and confidence.
- Spend time with your friends and family.
Divorcing Your Partner? Contact Lincoln & Wenk for a Consultation
Dating after your divorce might not be at the top of your priorities, but your life will certainly look different after leaving your spouse. If you’re still wondering, “What should I do immediately after divorce?” turn to Lincoln & Wenk. Our team of experienced divorce lawyers in Goodyear, Arizona can help you navigate the often uncertain and complex legal landscape surrounding divorce and marital law.
Our law firm believes in advocating for our client’s rights and their best interests in and out of the courtroom. Call (623) 294-2464 to schedule a consultation with Lincoln & Wenk.