Filing for Divorce in PA - Divorces Spike in January
It is well known within the family law world that more people file for divorce in January than any other month. This is true here in Pennsylvania as well as across the country. This statistic can be attributed to a number of factors. Couples in Pennsylvania as well as nationwide often choose to wait to file for divorce until the holiday season has passed in an effort to avoid upsetting family traditions. This is particularly true among married couples with young children. Other couples opt to begin the New Year with a fresh start, and still others hold off filing for divorce until January in order to take advantage of their joint tax filing status for the end of the year.
How to Begin the PA Divorce Process
The first thing anyone considering a divorce in Pennsylvania should do is seek specialist advice from an experienced local divorce attorney. A skilled PA divorce attorney will take time to learn about your goals and will advise you with regard to your options and legal rights so that you can decide what the best solution is for you. For both husbands and wives, a divorce can be an extremely stressful and difficult situation to deal with, but working with an attorney who has considerable experience in the Pennsylvania divorce courts can help someone going through a divorce make it out at the end of the process without losing everything.
Financial Steps to Take When Considering Divorce
One of the best things you can do to help yourself as you prepare to go forward with filing for divorce in Pennsylvania is to gain a firm grasp on your finances and make necessary financial adjustments. Your divorce lawyer will need copies of all relevant financial documents, including mortgages, bank and credit card statements, tax returns, loan documentation, etc., so it’s in your best interest to gather these documents before even meeting with your attorney.
You should close all joint bank accounts, if possible, in order to avoid a situation wherein your ex-spouse cleans out your joint account or runs up exorbitant credit card debt. You should also carefully monitor your credit report throughout the PA divorce process.
Your tax filing status will change as a result of your divorce. It may be advisable for you to consult with an accountant or other tax professional to review the implications of your divorce on your taxes, as this can greatly affect your head-of-household status, deductions for dependent children and other tax considerations. Often, a good PA divorce lawyer will have a network of tax, insurance and other financial professionals he or she works with on a regular basis. Don’t be afraid to ask for a referral.
Meeting with Your Divorce Lawyer
Once you have selected an experienced PA divorce lawyer to represent you, it is extremely important that you be completely open and honest with him or her about your marriage and its dissolution. Your divorce lawyer needs to know the truth about your relationship with your ex-spouse, or he or she will be caught off-guard in front of the PA family law judge assigned to your case. This will do nothing but hurt your case. The more your divorce lawyer knows about you and your situation, the more easily he or she will be able to minimize unflattering information that arises throughout the course of your divorce.
It is equally important to strictly adhere to the advice your divorce lawyer gives you. Although you may feel like you know your ex-spouse better than your attorney, a good divorce attorney is a seasoned professional who knows how to advise you in order for you to gain the objectives you want out of the divorce. A good divorce lawyer will know what is in your best interest and how best to protect your legal rights and your assets.
Jason Martin, Esq. is an experienced PA family law attorney who assists clients seeking divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support and alimony in Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County and Philadelphia County. Contact The Martin Law Firm for a no-obligation, confidential consultation.