As 2020 comes to a close, you may be experiencing marital strife and considering divorce. It’s been a more difficult year than most for all of us, and many couples are facing the possibility of ending their marriages in the new year. Should you get divorced in 2021? Here are some questions to ask yourself.

Are You Really Ready For a Divorce?

Before you file for a divorce — or even announce to your partner that you’re considering it — think about whether or not it’s something you really want and are ready for. There’s no right answer here; you may be completely ready or you may want to wait a little longer to see what happens. No matter what you choose to do, make sure you’ve taken the time to sit with your own feelings about the situation without influence from other people or ideas. Don’t look at what you think you should be ready for and instead, honor the place you are in now, regardless of where that is.

Do You Have All Your Important Documents Gathered?

Before you get a divorce, you need to have access to a number of critical documents, including bank statements, vehicle titles, loan documents, debt records, and more. It takes time to collect these things and you may not want to have the divorce announcement hanging over your head while you get everything in order. Consider gathering the information you need ahead of time and letting your spouse know you want to get a divorce after you’ve gotten most of your documents organized.

Do You Have a Good Support System In Place?

Getting a divorce is a tumultuous process, especially if you and your spouse have children together. Evaluate your current support system and what that might look like once you inform your partner that you want a divorce. Will you lose a lot of friends and family members? Do you have other friends and family outside of your spouse that can help support you and your children during the divorce? If you lack a good support system, you may want to take some time to look into other resources in your community before formally separating from your spouse.

Is Legal Separation a Possibility?

In some cases, it may be more beneficial for you and your spouse to legally separate as opposed to getting a divorce. This essentially means that you remain married on paper and can keep your spouse’s health insurance, etc., but you both agree to live separately from one another. A legal separation can be used as a “trial” for a divorce, where you and your spouse can spend some time apart and think about where you want to go with your marriage. You can easily move forward with a divorce if you want, or you can resume living together and end the legal separation agreement.

Have You Contacted an Experienced Long Island Divorce Attorney?

If you haven’t yet reached out to a Long Island divorce lawyer, this is something you should do before you announce to your spouse that you’re considering dissolving the marriage. What you do prior to informing your partner can make a difference in how your case proceeds, and it’s critical to be aware of what your legal rights are as you pursue a divorce under New York law. We’ve all heard the horror stories of divorces “going bad”, so be sure you find a divorce attorney that has years of experience in Long Island courtrooms. This can greatly smooth your divorce process because he or she will likely know the other divorce attorneys and judges, as well as the law.

Having an understanding of the steps you need to take to increase the chances your divorce will be smooth and successful before you start getting involved in the process can mean the difference between receiving a favorable verdict and losing your case in court. Most family law firms offer low or no-cost initial consultations where you can learn more about your legal standing in regards to your divorce and what your available options are.

Call Hornberger Verbitsky, P.C. Today for a Consultation to Discuss Your Divorce

Are you thinking about getting a divorce in the new year? Before you announce your interest in possibly ending your marriage to your partner, let Hornberger Verbitsky, P.C. give you the information you need about how to protect your rights, your access to property that you own, and time you spend with your children. Call today for a consultation to discuss your case in detail at 631-923-1910.