What Should I Do Before Filing Divorce in Arizona | Hildebrand Law, PC

Tue 3rd Sep, 2019 Arizona Divorce Laws

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Things You Should Do Before Filing for Divorce in Arizona

Many people ask what should I do before filing a divorce in Arizona.

It is important for you to know what you should do before filing for a divorce in Arizona.

According to the American Psychological Association, between 40 and 50 percent of U.S. marriages end in divorce.

That number is even higher if it’s a subsequent marriage.

So if you are considering divorce, you are not alone.

But there are a few things you should get in order before you actually file for divorce.

Look Into Your Health Insurance Coverage Before Filing for Divorce in Arizona

Many married couples use only one person’s health insurance.

This is especially true when families are covering children.

However, once you get divorced, this will be problematic. You and your ex-spouse will each need coverage.

Most people get health insurance through their employer.

You could each elect your own employer’s coverage if you are both employed. Divorce typically qualifies as a life event that will allow you to elect coverage outside of the normal open enrollment window.

If you or your spouse is not employed, another option for health coverage will need to be secured.

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Evaluate Your Debts Before Filing for Divorce in Arizona

Do you and your spouse share debt and have you thought of the community property debts incurred during your marriage? Student loans, car loans, mortgages, and personal loans can all be sources of debt. Before you file for divorce, get a good handle on your finances and your exact amount of debt.

Once you understand your financial situation, you have to determine whether you could take on paying that debt back if it is split between you two during the divorce process.

If not, you may need to consider getting another job, looking into payment options and talking with a lawyer about how to handle your next steps.

You should never stay in a bad marriage because of debt, but you should have a clear picture of how that debt will affect you as you move forward with your life.

Ask yourself whether you should sell the family home, sell a car, or move to a less-expensive area.

Determine Your Housing Needs Before Filing for Divorce in Arizona

It’s unlikely you and your ex-spouse will live together after divorce.

You need a plan for housing.

Step one in determining where you will live is understanding how much you can afford.

This goes back to understanding your finances and debts.

Child support can offset some of your costs if you have children and they will live with you.

The exact amount will be decided during the divorce process, but the initial calculator can help you plan how much you can afford in terms of housing.

Alimony (or spousal support) may or may not be awarded during the divorce.

This will vary greatly from marriage to marriage and from state to state.

It’s best to have a consultation with an experienced Arizona family law attorney to get an idea of what you can expect to receive or expect to pay in child support and alimony before filing for divorce in Arizona.

Beyond the cost of your housing, you should also consider the location.

If you are hoping to move out of state, you should speak to a lawyer first.

It can be difficult to move away with your children once you get divorced in Arizona. You should most definitely speak to an experienced Arizona family law attorney if you are contemplating moving yourself and your children to another state prior to filing for divorce because there could be serious consequences as a result of such a move.

A lawyer will be able to help you plan ahead and understand the ramifications of filing in one state and moving to another.

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Determine Your Need for Job Training Before Filing for Divorce in Arizona

Do you have a job? Do you need more training to earn enough income after getting divorced?

For some people, they have been out of the workforce for a period of time. For others, they may realize they need to earn more money to support themselves after divorce and may want to complete a program that leads to higher earnings before filing for divorce.

This is something to consider before you file for divorce.

If you need a job or job training, start looking into it now.

Prepare or update your resume and start applying for positions or look into job training options.

At a minimum, you can make some decisions about the job path you’d like to take and what is required to get there.

Evaluate Your Retirement Plan Before Filing for Divorce in Arizona

If you or your spouse has retirement accounts, such as a 401k or a Roth IRA, the community portion of these accounts will very likely be equally divide.

The division of assets, which includes dividing retirement accounts, will be decided during the actual divorce.

However, you need a long-term plan for retirement.

Once you get divorced, it will be up to you to save for your own retirement.

If you are the one who has the retirement account and will be dividing it with your spouse, you need to understand that you may lose half of the balance in those retirement accounts. Consider how this will impact your retirement plans.

Will you need to work longer and retire at a later age?

All of these issues should be considered before you file for divorce.

Knowing where you will be at when you reach your desired retirement age will make your divorce much smoother, and it will enable you to move forward with your life much faster.

If you have questions about what you should do before filing for divorce in Arizona, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Our Arizona divorce and family law attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully representing clients in divorce and family law cases.

Our family law firm has earned numerous awards such as US News and World Reports Best Arizona Family Law Firm, US News and World Report Best Divorce Attorneys, “Best of the Valley” by Arizona Foothills readers, and “Best Arizona Divorce Law Firms” by North Scottsdale Magazine.

Call us today at (480)305-8300 or reach out to us through our appointment scheduling form to schedule your personalized consultation and turn your Arizona divorce or family law case around today.

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