A Checklist for Starting the Divorce Process
Realizing that your marriage has come to an end is stressful enough on its own. You may not want to think about the legal proceedings that are to come next, or even know where to start. The steps you take during the process, though, will have a significant impact on your case so it is important to know what to do right from the start. Below, our Orlando divorce lawyer provides a checklist you can follow to make things easier.
Consult an Orlando Divorce Lawyer
You are not required to have legal representation when getting a divorce, but it is recommended that you do. Even if you are getting an uncontested divorce, an experienced attorney can draft your agreement and ensure it will be approved by the courts. During a contested divorce it is even more critical that you work with an attorney who can advise you of your rights and ensure they are upheld at all times throughout the proceedings.
Collect Financial Documents
During the divorce process, you will have to provide full financial disclosure and to do this, it is essential that you have a complete understanding of your situation. To ensure you do, you should collect all financial documents. You will also need these to prove that your financial affidavit is honest and accurate. The most important financial documents to collect are as follows:
- Statements from all bank accounts
- Tax returns for the past three years
- Pay stubs or proof of income
- Business records, if you are self-employed
- Credit card statements
- Inventory of all assets such as your vehicle, home, and valuables
- Statements from retirement accounts
- Documents related to investments
- Insurance policies, including life and health insurance
Complete the Divorce Petition
One of the best ways an attorney can help you is when completing the divorce petition. The petition officially asks the court to grant you a divorce and requires different types of information. This includes basic information such as your name and address, facts about the marriage, and requests for child support, alimony, and property division. Your lawyer will obtain a full understanding of your goals and then help you fill out the petition so nothing is left out. After the petition is filled out, it must then be submitted to the appropriate court.
Serve Your Spouse
If you are the one who submitted the petition to the court, you must also serve your spouse with divorce papers. There are very specific ways to do this in Florida and if they are not followed, your divorce case cannot proceed. Your lawyer can also ensure that you serve your spouse with the divorce papers properly. If you are the spouse to be served divorce papers, you have 20 days to respond.
Our Divorce Lawyer in Orlando Can Help You Through the Above Steps
There are many steps to take during the divorce process and they can all be overwhelming. At Anderson & Ferrin, P.A., our Orlando divorce lawyer can help you through them to make the process as easy as possible for you. Call us now at 407-412-7041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your case.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/0061.html
