The decision to divorce your spouse isn’t one that’s made lightly, but it’s only the first step in a long process that can be difficult and complicated without the right preparation. In today’s post, we’re going to discuss five ways you can make the process easier on yourself and get closer to the life that you deserve.

As you’ll learn in more detail below, contacting an experienced divorce attorney is one of the best things you can do for yourself once you’ve made the decision to begin the process. At Fairell Roy & Associates , we understand that divorce is rarely easy, but we do everything we can to help and support our clients as we work toward favorable outcomes. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with an Atlanta divorce attorney , and read on to learn about five ways you can lessen the divorce’s impact on your life.

If you’ve considered your options and have made the decision to divorce your spouse, then you need to commit to your decision and go all-in, even on the days that you find yourself questioning your judgment or doubting if you’re capable of following through. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed by or doubtful about major life decisions, but trusting in yourself and approaching the decision with confidence can save you a lot of unnecessary stress.

Once you’ve committed to the decision, give some serious thought as to what you do and don’t want to get out of the divorce. Take the time to think about needs, wants, and things you could live without. The more you understand the outcome you want for yourself, the easier it will be for you to pursue it.

Shared bank accounts, debt obligations, and other shared financial assets can be some of the most difficult aspects of a divorce. This is particularly true if you and your spouse have shared your finances for years.

Take the time to get familiar with your personal finances as much as possible. Check your credit, track your monthly income, and become mindful of how much you spend each month to maintain your lifestyle. Then, be honest with yourself and evaluate whether you can afford to maintain your current lifestyle. If you think you’ll have to live between paychecks or keep a running credit card balance just to stay afloat, then you may need to consider pursuing alimony or another form of financial support from your spouse.

It’s a good idea to consider when and if you will need to relocate. If your spouse reacts negatively and you need to find a temporary home, will you be able to rely on friends and family? Do you have the financial means to enter into a short-term lease or another form of temporary housing? If you have children, then make sure that you’ve considered how moving and changing your living arrangements will affect them, too.

Divorce can be particularly difficult for children, although studies have shown that children are more likely to be negatively affected when they remain in conflict-prone households. You and your spouse will need to arrange a time to talk with your child and ensure that they understand what to expect in the coming months. Keep in mind that you and your spouse have had ample time to process and think about how the divorce will affect you; your children haven’t. Try to give them as much notice as possible before moving and making other sweeping changes to their lives. Open lines of communication, frequent check-ins, and honest discussions will go a long way toward helping your child cope with the divorce.

See these blog posts for additional information about how you can support your child through your divorce:

While all of the tips we’ve discussed will help you as you begin the process and follow through with your divorce, you deserve an advocate who can help you navigate the legal system and help you attain the outcome you want.

At Fairell Roy & Associates, we understand that divorce can feel overwhelming. If you come to us, you can trust that we will do everything we can to make the process easy and straightforward. We have experience with child custody, child support, and can help you navigate any issues that may arise after the divorce is finalized. From start to finish, we’ll be there to answer questions, recommend counseling resources, and make sure that your interests are protected.

Take the first steps toward the life you want and contact our office for a consultation with an Atlanta divorce attorney who will put your needs first.