How Do I Protect Myself Before Divorce?

Long before the divorce process begins, you may already have thoughts in your head about it, mainly because one party will be at fault for the divorce. There are some important ways you may want to begin preparing and protecting yourself before the divorce?

If you believe you will be filing your divorce on at-fault grounds like adultery, you will need to begin collecting evidence that can prove your reason for wanting a divorce. Direct evidence is evidence that can first-handily prove your spouse has committed adultery, such as photos, videos, or your spouse’s confession to committing adultery. Another type of evidence is circumstantial evidence which is indirect evidence that the judge can use to deduce your spouse has been having an affair. Circumstantial evidence includes things like bank statements, phone records, or texts and emails. Having evidence to prove adultery is essential if you are requesting a disproportionate share of the community estate.

Protecting all social media and bank accounts are extremely important to do before you file for a divorce. Social media forums are your spouse’s best way to keep up with what you are doing, and it is essential to take precautionary measures so your spouse does not attempt to hack into these accounts. Tidying up your accounts is suitable for a start because you could have damaging pictures or posts that may end up hurting you unless you deactivate some accounts. It would help if you changed all passwords to something unpredictable that has not been used before. The same goes for all PINs to debit cards and passwords to bank account applications or websites.

It is also important that any communications or mail not be intercepted during the divorce proceeding, which is why changing your mailing address and creating a separate email address can offer protection for you. You will need a reliable means of communication between you and your lawyer, and using a mailing address or email address your spouse has access to can disrupt communications. There are many free email providers you can use, and a work email is not recommended. This is because your employer owns that email, and under the law, your employer can be subject to a subpoena by your spouse’s attorney. All email communications will then be accessible through the subpoena.

Protecting your credit is essential as well. By obtaining a credit report, any unknown debts will be brought to your attention rather than later. It is not uncommon for a spouse to secure loans or credit cards with their spouse’s name and credit. Therefore, you should jump on protecting your credit by removing your spouse as an authorized user from any credit card. An authorized user can charge on any accounts but are not responsible for the debt they charge. There are many free credit monitoring services you can enroll in to help alert you about any changes to your credit report.

Discussing credit, it is also essential that you continue to pay the minimum amounts of any financial obligations you have like mortgage payments, credit card payments, and other financial obligations. You may be tempted to stop paying if your spouse is not upholding her end, but this can end up hurting your credit more in the long run. You could potentially default on your mortgage, have your home repossessed, and leave you without a home and lose any equity you acquired in the house.

Next, it is essential to keep a calendar or timeline of events that will eventually become important in your divorce—keeping track of visits you and your spouse have with your children, fights between you and your wife, appointments with your attorney, and even court dates. There are apps you can take advantage of. However, if you have a smartphone, backing up information where your spouse has access to the account can give her access to all calendars and notes you have been keeping.

Changing your will and beneficiaries may be essential to consider having done if you are heading towards a divorce. It’s a challenging topic of conversation, but if you were to die today, your spouse might be entitled to everything. If you do not have a will, getting a simple will is essential. If you have a current will, it is necessary to update beneficiaries of your will with all your financial institutions.

It is also important to begin handling any joint accounts you and your spouse may have to avoid being left with nothing. Joint accounts leave both parties with access to the accounts, and it is not uncommon for a spouse to drain all joint accounts. This also means, in return, that you should not leave your spouse with anything either. It may be logical to open a separate account but withdraw no more than half of the money from joint accounts. This should be enough for you to survive on in the meantime and leave your spouse and children with money to survive on as well. It is also essential to open a bank account in a separate bank, rather than one you and your spouse have used before.

Next, you should consider having a complete physical done for many reasons. A divorce is one of the most stressful times in one’s life, and maintaining your physical and mental health is equally as important. Your physical health is also a factor considered by the court for issues like custody and maintenance. If you suspect that your wife has committed adultery, you must get a check-up regardless of whether you have not caught a sexually transmitted disease. Knowing if you have contracted an STD is important because your spouse can be required to pay the expenses of any treatments.

Gathering information, not just to prove any at-fault grounds for the divorce, is essential for the divorce as well. Gathering critical financial documents that will be admissible in court may be necessary to gather before the divorce begins because those documents may become harder to collect once the divorce proceeding begins. Such vital documents can relate to real estate, credit, bank statements, loan statements, income tax returns, paycheck stubs for both parties, etc. Having all this financial information beforehand is essential because any asset you believe is nonmarital is your burden to prove.

You know how to prepare for your divorce before the filing is just as crucial to the actual proceeding itself. It is the time to gather all evidence and documents that may otherwise not be available during the proceeding. Preparation for a divorce can help you build a strong case against your spouse if you are requesting a disproportionate share of the community estate or attempting to prove your partner is at fault for the divorce.

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Other Articles you may be interested in:

1. Six things You Need to Know Before You File for Divorce in Texas
2. I Want a Texas Divorce, but My Husband Doesn’t: What can I do?
3. Am I Married? – Marital Status in Texas
4. Can I sue my spouse’s mistress in Texas?
5. 6 Tips – On How to prepare for a Texas Divorce
6. Roadmap of Basic Divorce Procedure in Texas
7. Child Custody Basics in Texas
8. 6 Mistakes that can Destroy Your Texas Divorce Case
9. 10 Quick Tips About Parental Visitation
10. Does it Matter who Files First in a Texas Divorce?

Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Spring Divorce Lawyers

The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding divorce, it’s essential to speak with one of our Spring, TX Divorce Lawyers right away to protect your rights.

Our divorce lawyers in Spring, TX, are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, handles Divorce cases in Spring, Texas, Cypress, Spring, Klein, Humble, Kingwood, Tomball, The Woodlands, the FM 1960 area, or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, Chambers County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County.

Bryan Joseph Fagan( Attorney )

Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.

Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.

His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.

Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.