Many people rightfully believe that hiring a specialized divorce lawyer to handle their case is the best course of action when it comes to divorces. And since it certainly helps to have a good divorce attorney by your side—that’s absolutely true. Nevertheless, besides having separate lawyers, both soon-to-be ex-spouses should be mindful of the basic steps of the process that need to be taken in order to protect themselves and end their marriage on a good note.  

While divorce attorneys will help you ensure that you do everything possible to keep your personal information and financial assets safeguarded long after you’re divorced, there are also other things you can do on your own to help protect yourself, especially if you find yourself in a situation where you might be wondering—is a private investigator watching me how I act in the last days of my marriage and can I somehow compromise myself?

Well, if that’s the case, being the subject of a private investigator may appear to be a harrowing thought, but in reality, it is also something that can be quite routine. After all, it’s not quite unusual to see private investigators hired by concerned family members or concerned business partners who are often trying to confirm what they already suspect.

While it might seem scary, the good news is that there are ways to get through this and finalize your divorce while also keeping your sanity (and the already fragile relationship with your spouse) intact.

Collect All Necessary Divorce Documents  

When you file for divorce, there will be numerous documents that you will need to fill out. Some of these documents will include your birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, social security card, and so on. Apart from these general documents, there will also be some specific ones like marital settlement agreements and parenting plans. Ensure that you have all of these documents ready before filing for the divorce.  

Take Care Of Your Minor Children, If Any  

If you have minor children and your marriage is ending, it is very important that you keep your children’s well-being in mind at all times. You need to make sure that there will be no custody battles; if there are any, it will only add more stress to the situation. 

You should also make sure that child support is handled without a hitch so that your child can continue on with their life without any inconveniences. You can do this by hiring an experienced divorce lawyer who specializes in such cases and who has successfully handled cases like yours before.

Protect Your Credit

Make sure you’re aware of all the joint accounts you have with your spouse, as well as any personal accounts. Contact the creditors for each account and ask that your spouse be removed from it – or, if it’s a joint account, figure out how to close it altogether. You’ll also want to contact all three credit bureaus and ask that they split your records from your spouse’s. This will ensure you’re not responsible for debts incurred down the line. 

Line Up Your Personal Bank Account 

Once you have access to your own—or even shared funds, consider opening up a bank account in just your name if you don’t already have one. You can keep any joint accounts open until the divorce is finalized; just make sure you don’t touch those funds without permission from the court.

Protect Your Information 

Keep track of all passwords on shared devices, and change them once you move out and obtain separate devices (unless there are children involved). Also, consider blocking your ex on social media so they can’t view any of your private posts or pictures. It may seem trivial, but if you have a history of harmful behavior from your previous partner, it’s important to set some boundaries. 

Find A Suitable Health Insurance Plan

If you were on your spouse’s health plan, you need to find coverage for yourself. If you have children, they’ll need their own coverage too. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to sell coverage to anyone who applies, regardless of their medical history. So if you wait until after the divorce goes through, it could be months before you and your children are covered again. Start looking for insurance as soon as possible so there’s no gap in coverage for your family. 

Final Thoughts 

In the end, it’s best to make sure you are prepared. There are a number of things to be mindful of during a divorce, especially for people who may be in a high-profile marriage or have a lot of assets that need protecting. A good attorney will be able to help you with some of these issues, but it is smart to get an idea yourself so that you can fully protect your rights and interests.