What You Should Do Now In a Divorce on Long Island, NY

The beginning of a divorce can be a very scary time, especially when it is a Contested Divorce in which there are unresolved issues between the parties. These issues could relate to anything from child support and visitation to maintenance to equitable distribution and beyond.

Accordingly, it is very natural to have a lot of questions. In order to answer those questions it is very important that you meet with and speak to an experienced Long Island Divorce Attorney as soon as possible. At such time, he or she will be able to more fully answer your questions and ease your concerns.

Minimize Stress During the Divorce Process

One of the first questions you may have is what you should be doing now. The best thing for you to do is to try and alleviate the stress that you are surely feeling at such a tumultuous time. The best way to do that is to speak with a professional who has experience in these matters and who will be able to walk you through this period of change in your life. Every divorce is unique, so be wary of taking advice from friends and family, particularly bitterly divorced friends and family. Their divorce is not your divorce and it will have its own unique issues and resolutions.

Collect Appropriate Documents

In order to help your new Divorce Attorney get a clear picture of your case, it is important that he or she be given some crucial details and documents. Most of the necessary details are very straightforward – when you got married, do you have any children, if so how old, where are you, your spouse and your children living, etc.

Other details may seem a little more invasive, but are very necessary, such as if there are any Orders of Protection outstanding against you or your spouse or the reason for your divorce. It is important to keep in mind that much of what you say to your Divorce Attorney is confidential.

In order to properly protect your interests, one of the most important things we need to move forward with your case is to have a very clear picture of your financial situation. As such, it is important for you to begin gathering relevant financial data, such as your monthly expenses, recent paystubs, tax returns and any debt you or your spouse may have. As you navigate your divorce, neither you nor your spouse will be able to transfer, sell or destroy any assets. For example, neither you nor your spouse can empty any joint bank accounts or attempt to unilaterally sell the marital residence. As such, it is important that you keep an accounting of all such marital assets.

Keep Your Social Media Footprint Small

Additionally, one of the many pieces of advice we give our clients upon first meeting them is to have a very small Social Media footprint. It is very common today for people to immediately take to social media with their private lives. We urge our clients to resist this temptation and to remain “radio silent.” For the sake of you and your children’s privacy, we always request that all of our clients remain off social media, at least when it comes to your contested divorce. There have been countless instances in which our office has been able to use Facebook and other forms of social media against our client’s spouse, as he or she may post something that we can use to help our case. As such, there have been many instances in which we have been able to secure our clients a better result because of what his or her spouse has revealed on their social media accounts.

Plan for Your Future

You should also begin to make a plan for your future. You need to begin thinking about what your post-divorce life will look like. Will you have Child Support or Maintenance Obligations you need to meet each month? Alternatively, will you be receiving Child Support or Maintenance Payments each month? These are important questions that you need answered as you prepare for your post-divorce life. If you and your spouse have children together, there will be a very large adjustment for both you and your children. You will likely have less time to spend with them, as you and your spouse will need to share time with them. This is also something that you need to keep in mind.

Questions About Contested Divorce on Long Island?

To learn more about what you need to know about Contested Divorce on Long Island and how to get help to protect yourself and your future to ensure you have the freedom and resources to live a full and happy post-divorce life, visit this page: Contested Divorce Attorney Protects Your Rights & Assets

Seek the Counsel of an Experienced Long Island Divorce Attorney

While this whole process can certainly seem overwhelming, the assistance of an experienced Long Island Divorce Attorney can help to alleviate some of that burden. With the years of experience we have at our divorce law firm, we know how to help you navigate what can seem like an endless process. We can help answer your questions and help you through your divorce. If you are ready to take the next step in your Long Island Divorce, please call us at 631-923-1910 and schedule your free consultation. We can help.

For more information on Contested Divorce, read What You Need to Know About Contested Divorce.

See this page for Your Guide to Preparing for a Contested Divorce.

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