What You Should Anticipate During the Initial Phase of the Divorce Process

Making the choice to file a divorce application can be a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with doubt, bewilderment, and often a sense of loss. You’re probably wondering what to anticipate and how you and your family can get through this difficult time if you’ve found yourself at the start of something like this. Like every family, every separation and divorce is different, and we aim to collaborate with you to give you personalised guidance on child arrangements.  Having a better idea of what to expect in the beginning of the legal process will make you feel a lot more prepared to continue on this path. 

Emotional Impact of the Divorce Process

As family lawyers, we witness this almost every day: the early phases of separation and divorce tend to be characterised by strong emotions, often complicated by the legal process. You will probably feel a variety of emotions, and these emotions are not linear, no matter whether you expected the breakup or it came as a total surprise during the divorce proceedings. Feelings of sadness, rage, relief, perplexity, or even guilt are perfectly acceptable. Also, there may be a feeling of disbelief, particularly if you were in a committed relationship before the divorce application was filed.  Once more, as family solicitors, we are aware of this and prepared to take it into consideration when you see us.  To make sure we’re acting in a way that suits you, we’ll try to work with you at your own pace and follow your instructions.   

The first stage of divorce

When a couple decides to split up, many believe that physical separation is the first formal step. It can be somewhat stressful to move out of the family home or to choose to live in separate areas of the same house. Since these actions often come with legal repercussions as well, it is important to talk about them with your family lawyer before doing them, especially if you are unsure of your long-term and short-term goals.

Define Your Boundaries

It would be wise to try to come to an agreement on basic guidelines, like living arrangements, shared responsibilities, and the best ways to communicate with each other and the children, whether or not you live together. In addition to giving you a sense of control during a highly emotional moment in your life, this may help to lessen the amount of tension between you and your spouse during the financial settlement discussions.  You might not feel confident or at ease enough to have such a talk with your husband yet, in which case we, as your lawyers, would be more than pleased to do it on your behalf, whether that means writing to your spouse directly or speaking with the solicitor they have assigned.

Divorce-related financial provisions

One of the most challenging and heated aspects of separation is the possibility that this might happen.  If you are looking for guidance, we at SGT Law Firm strongly suggest that you consult us who specialise in Scottish Family Law as soon as possible to navigate the legal process effectively.

The importance of collecting and valuing the assets and responsibilities of the marriage as of the date of separation is something that we will be able to advise you on.  In addition to this, we would explore the conditions surrounding your marriage and separation, and then we would offer you personalised guidance based on those aspects.  In the same way, if you have children, you will need to think about child support payments and childcare arrangements as soon as possible.  

We can assist you in navigating what might be considered a legal labyrinth, and we are here to help. A professional legal counsel can ensure that you are making well-informed decisions, which may be extremely advantageous for you and your family in the long term, even if the divorce is peaceful. This is true even if the divorce is amicable.

The Financial Situation After the Divorce Application

You might be transitioning from managing a single household with two sources of revenue to managing two distinct households with a single source of income.  Therefore, it might make sense to think about consulting a financial advisor to assist you evaluate and comprehend your financial situation after the divorce.

Childcare Arrangements 

The welfare of your children will probably be one of your top priorities if you are a parent. Decisions on childcare arrangements, work schedules, and what co-parenting means to you both will therefore probably need to be made early in the process. Although these conversations and decisions can be challenging and frequently emotionally taxing, as specialised solicitors, we understand how important it is to you to maintain your children’s best interests.

Conclusion

The initial stages of separation can often feel like traversing unfamiliar and perhaps rough waters. Even though financial and psychological challenges may seem impossible to overcome, SGT Law Firm is here to help you understand your rights and obligations. To ensure that you are prepared to start the next phase of your life, please do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation to get assistance with your divorce application.