If you’re entering the divorce process, you need a team on
your side – whether you’re filing for the divorce, or
your spouse has filed against you. Having strong advocates and
advisors with you each step of the way can help you get the
information and advice necessary to make your divorce progress as
smoothly as possible. When you’re building out your team,
don’t forget the following people:

1. AN EXPERIENCED FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

One of the first people you need to contact when you’re
going through a divorce is an attorney. Your first call to an
attorney will generally be to set up a consultation, where you can
tell your story, ask questions in a non-judgmental and safe
setting, and learn about the divorce process. Some consultations
can even be completed over the phone.

Your attorney can help you connect with many of the other
experts on this list – such as financial and mental health
experts. However, when you’re picking an attorney, you really
need to be picky. You want to make sure that your family
law attorney has experience handling cases with similar needs. For
example, if you’re going through a high-net-worth divorce, find
an attorney with experience handling cases involving complex
financial situations. If you have children, find an attorney with a
strong success rate in child custody cases.

Every decision made during a divorce will have an impact, all of
which your family law attorney can walk you through to make sure
that your decision-making is as informed as possible. To read more
about how Brown, Goldstein & Levy practices family law, click
here.

2. YOUR BANK AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES

After you are set up with a family law attorney, they will start
to walk you through the financial aspects of a divorce. Your
attorney may recommend for you to contact your bank and request
that joint account(s) with your spouse be frozen, especially if you
suspect your ex-spouse may withdraw funds or even empty the bank
account. Sometimes, an ex-spouse may partake in excessive spending
just prior to or once they are involved in a divorce. You will need
to explain to the bank that you are getting a divorce and would
like your joint credit card account(s) to be closed or frozen until
further notice. In the case of joint bank or investment accounts,
you can request for the account to be frozen until both parties
authorize a withdrawal. To preserve your credibility, it is a good
idea to inform your ex-spouse of the frozen accounts to avoid any
surprises.

3. A FINANCIAL ADVISOR

You may already have a financial advisor that works with you,
and also with your ex-spouse during the marriage. The major changes
brought on by a divorce may change how you plan your finances for
the short- and long-term future. If you do not have a financial
advisor, your attorney may suggest that you contact a Certified
Divorce Financial Analyst, who will have specialized experience in
working alongside attorneys at all steps of a divorce.

You may have investments, loans, and assets that you will need
to budget for during your separation and after your divorce. During
a divorce, your financial advisor will give you advice on the
financial consequences of decisions surrounding the splitting of
assets, and additional costs such as alimony and child support. A
financial advisor will make sure that you plan not just for the
present, but also for the future once your separation is complete.
Financial planning is also essential to adjusting to your new
lifestyle once the divorce is finalized.

4. MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS

The degree to which mental health experts are involved in a
divorce depends greatly on the circumstances of the separation and
the individuals involved. However, mental health professionals are
found in divorces of all kinds, from collaborative to high-conflict
divorces. Sometimes, attorneys may bring in mental health experts
to increase their ability to assist you to the highest possible
degree.

A mental health professional’s services also can be helpful
for children of divorce. A family therapist can help your children
adjust to their new lifestyle and to accept their parents’
divorce, especially if the separation is high conflict. A family
therapist can help your children adjust to the custody schedule,
the stressors of the divorce process, their feelings about the
divorce and receive helpful advice on navigating their post-divorce
lifestyle.

5. FRIENDS, FAMILY, OR SUPPORT GROUPS

Last, but not least, you may have a circle of friends, family,
or trusted co-workers that can help you move forward from your
divorce. Your support system could be your safe space to vent your
feelings, be a shoulder for you to cry on, and can help you stay
positive during the hardships of a divorce. If they are willing,
your friends and family could also help with certain after-effects
of a divorce, such as assisting with childcare, helping you move,
and spending time with you to remind you that you are not alone.
You may choose instead to work through your divorce with people who
are going through one themselves. A divorce support group near you
can give you healing and strategies to move on from your divorce in
the best way that works for you.

Divorce can be highly overwhelming and complex. You need an
experienced family law attorney who will ensure your voice is heard
throughout the divorce process. Dana McKee is an award-winning family law attorney who has assisted many
clients through painful divorces and bitter custody battles. She believes that her role is
not only as her client’s advocate and legal counselor, but part
of her client’s support system; a person who her clients can
trust for honest and sound advice.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.