As a family law attorney, one of the most frequent questions I am asked is what someone should do to prepare for a divorce. Below are 5 things that I suggest to make the process a bit easier:

1. Identify your support system. Whether or not you initiate the divorce, it is often a stressful and emotional time. It helps to have people in mind who will be by your side throughout the process. These might include family members, friends or even someone who has recently been through a divorce.
2. Start gathering documents. At some point you will need to identify your assets and debts. To start getting organized, it’s a good idea to make a list of all of your assets and debts and to gather documentation of the value of any of these items, if possible.
3. Consult with a divorce attorney. While Google is useful for many things, it is helpful to get professional advice from an attorney who specializes in divorce matters in your State.
4. Don’t feel rushed to make big decisions. While divorce is life-changing in many ways, you don’t need to feel rushed to make important choices. These could be things like whether or not you want to stay in your house, what a specific custody schedule looks like if you have kids or who will get certain items of personal property. There will be plenty of time to work through these issues as the divorce progresses. Give yourself time to consider what makes the most sense for you both financially and emotionally.
5. Be kind to yourself. Divorce is hard even if you know it is the right decision. Take the time to practice self-care and try not to beat yourself up over what you may have done wrong. While one chapter of your life might be ending, another is about to begin.