Don’t give up your power during your divorce

It’s essential in a divorce to work to get what you need to move forward with your life. That doesn’t mean fighting over everything just because you want to get back at your spouse. It does mean determining what is important to you and fighting for that. However, too many people give away power during a divorce in ways they don’t even realize. Following are some important ways to avoid doing that.

First, get legal guidance. While you may not think you can afford to hire an attorney, more likely, you can’t afford not to. Even if there are few assets to divide and no children, you want to ensure that you’ve got someone looking out for your interests in the short and long term. This is an emotional time, and that’s not when people make the best decisions.

This doesn’t mean that you have to go to court. In fact, it’s best to avoid it if possible. You’re giving over power to a judge who doesn’t know you or your family rather than deciding, with the help of your attorney, what’s best for you.

Neither does it mean that you rely on your attorney to make decisions for you. A good family law attorney provides legal advice and gives the pros and cons of various scenarios, but doesn’t tell the client what to do.

Second, don’t forget to take care of yourself both emotionally and physically. Many people think that they have to “get back out there” and often they have well-meaning friends who encourage that. However, you need some time to grieve the end of the relationship. If you’d rather sit at home and listen to Adele songs than go to a party or meet friends for dinner, that’s fine — at least for a while. You should start socializing again as a single person at some point, but do it at a pace that’s comfortable for you.

When you’re going through a life-changing event like a divorce, it’s easy to develop some bad habits — eating too much, not eating or not working out, for example. The healthier you keep your body, the stronger you’ll feel, both physically and emotionally.

Your Texas family law attorney can be a strong advocate for you and help you assert your power during your divorce. He or she can also recommend resources to help you stay strong.

Source: The Huffington Post, “7 Surprising Ways You Are Giving Away Your Power in Divorce,” Karen Covy, Oct. 23, 2015