Five Steps Take When You Want to Postpone Your Illinois Divorce

 Posted on December 15, 2021 in Divorce

Divorce is notoriously expensive, long, and difficult. Many couples delay what they know is an inevitable divorce because they have children, want to save money, or are simply not quite ready to make the final decision. But divorce professionals suggest that postponing divorce for some interminable future date may ultimately backfire. Rather than waiting for enough money or the children to reach a set age, experts suggest talking to your spouse openly and trying to create an amicable exit plan. 

Creating an Exit Strategy for Divorce

So you may not be ready to end the marriage - yet. But if you and your spouse already know such a separation is coming, and there are no pressing issues like domestic abuse or financial dissipation, you do not necessarily have to act with urgency. Rather than being reactive to an unpredictable process, you can create a plan for ending your marriage that leaves both spouses in a better place. Here are five steps you can take: 

• Map out a multi-year plan - Include financial goals, parenting goals, and perhaps even agree not to date or introduce any romantic complications into the picture. 

• Start saving - Both spouses can begin saving more money by creating a savings account specifically for divorce expenses, plus individual savings accounts for each spouse. Spouses may also want to use this time to go back to school or pay off debt. 

• Prepare the children - Talk to the children, spend time with them individually, and let them know what to expect. Affirm your unconditional love for them and be prepared for a range of responses to come your way. 

• Hire professionals - Once your pre-divorce goals are met, hire any professionals you decide are necessary to help you navigate the process. These could include mediators, financial advisors, and, of course, attorneys for both spouses. 

• File for divorce - Preparing for divorce so thoroughly will make the process of divorce straightforward and transparent. This means it will likely move faster, cost less, and be much less emotionally taxing. 

Although it may seem difficult to stay with your spouse for too much longer, keep in mind that divorce is not an easy path. Many couples find that divorce is substantially more complex and emotionally heated than they anticipated. Even if your situation now is not perfect, remember that divorce is not an immediate solution to your problems and that the more you prepare, the smoother your path is likely to be in the future. 

Schedule a Consultation with a DuPage County Divorce Lawyer

The temptation to postpone the inevitable when it comes to divorce is completely understandable. However, you could be putting yourself in an even worse position in the future if you do not get divorced now. To get help understanding how either choice may benefit you, schedule a consultation with an experienced Naperville, IL divorce attorney with Calabrese Associates, P.C.. We offer a low-pressure environment so you can ask questions, get answers, and make the decision that is right for you. Call our offices today at 630-393-3111. 

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/contemplating-divorce/201911/does-postponing-your-divorce-make-sense-when-you-have-kids 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+IV&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=3900000&SeqEnd=5400000