The attorneys of Cordell & Cordell present essential divorce information, resources and advice
about alimony, child support and child custody for men and fathers at any stage of divorce.

By DadsDivorce.com reader Big D

Note: This is part 1 of a two-part article on what to consider when filing for divorce. Part 2 focused on paying spousal support, retaining a lawyer and gathering arsenal for your case. Click here to read.

Surviving divorce can be tricky. We offer real-life examples and divorce advice for men and fathers on how to handle your situation.

I will first say that filing for divorce is not an easy decision even if you feel it is the only option you have left. After 17 years of marriage, 12 of which were misery, it was still very hard for me. I did the right thing, but it was not easy!

With that said, you need to treat this as a business transaction not as an emotional one. Once your soon-to-be-ex hires a lawyer, it will be a like a business transaction for her! So, cross all T’s and dot all I’s. Don’t be greedy and take care of what your lawyer suggests. Don’t think like a pissed off husband. Think like a businessman!

By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell

Note: Part 1 discussed how to protect your credit score before you divorce. Click here to read. Below is part 2 offering tips to protect your credit score when you divorce and after you divorce.

When You Divorce

When you divorce, negotiate your property settlement (if you settle your case) or request an order (if you try your case) that reduces the number of joint debts and has serious consequences when one ex fails to pay the joint debts that remain.

By JoAnne C. Holt,  Divorce financial analyst

First, please know all states have their own unique divorce statutes and case law that influence the outcome of a divorce.  As those statutes and case laws change over time so do the results. 

Most states operate under the "Equitable Distribution" concept as opposed to the "Community Property" states.  Part of either of these approaches to dividing assets is the recognition of separate or non-marital property. This can take the form of "pre-marital" property or "non-marital property."  The importance of these types of property is the ability to exclude them from division of the "Marital Property," often referred to as the Marital Estate.

More and more couples are entering into Prenuptial (a.k.a. Antenuptial) Agreements to attempt to define and protect pre-marital assets and keep them outside of the marital assets in order to protect them if a divorce occurs.  

Among the Ask a Divorce Lawyer questions answered today by Cordell & Cordell attorneys:

• Do I have any rights to the home since I refinanced it but it was hers from her first marriage?
• My wife had a car prior to our marriage but we paid off some of the loan during the marriage. Am I entitled to anything? I also had some stocks prior to marriage and some purchased during our marriage. How is this distributed?
• If I can't afford a divorce attorney, can I get the other party to pay for my attorney fees?