Who Should Be On My "Divorce Team"?

Navigating a divorce is rarely as straightforward as hiring an attorney and "winning" your case. The process can lead to health issues like depression, poor work performance, and an inability to care for others. However, with the right team, divorce can be more manageable. A collaborative approach ensures your well-being in every aspect, minimizing unnecessary conflict. Your divorce team should focus on problem-solving and understanding your priorities, providing support through this challenging time. It's hard to think about all these things when the chaos of divorce is occurring. To help you, we've outlined a list of key professionals who can make the process smoother:

Divorce Attorney

Having an attorney is crucial due to the complexity of legal steps involved. Divorce attorneys handle various family law issues, including prenuptial agreements, paternity actions, child support, estates, and domestic violence. They can mediate disputes and clarify entitlements. It's essential to choose an attorney who aligns with your values and goals, even if the divorce seems amicable. Legal advice ensures all aspects are considered and helps in making informed decisions. Meeting potential attorneys in person can help you assess their communication style and suitability for either a contested or collaborative divorce approach.

Therapist

A therapist is trained to listen to your concerns and teach coping tools, which is crucial during a divorce when emotions like stress, anger, and anxiety arise. Unlike supportive but potentially biased family and friends, therapists provide objective guidance. Regular therapy helps clients process emotions and stay focused on their goals. Therapists offer emotional support, realistic feedback, and gentle challenges to help you see clearly and address any personal biases, aiding in a healthy progression through the divorce.

Financial Advisor

A financial advisor is essential in managing finances during a divorce, helping to untangle shared and separate assets. A certified divorce financial analyst provides a comprehensive view of financial goals and strategies, ensuring decisions made now support future goals. They assist in asset valuation, tax analysis, and fair settlement distribution. Financial advisors also guide clients through the first year post-divorce, managing merged finances, paying bills, and understanding tax law changes. A financial advisor is crucial for understanding financial implications and securing a stable post-divorce financial future.

Divorce Coach

A divorce coach, though not always needed, can offer emotional support and practical advice throughout your divorce process. Divorce coaches often have experience in other fields such as finance, mental health, and law, which aids them in understanding clients' situations. Engaging a coach early, even before separation, can help manage divorce logistics, reduce stress, and focus on minimizing the negative impact on the family. It’s important to pick a divorce coach that you connect with and has experience in your situation.

Trust and Estates Attorney

It's important to review and update your estate plan after a divorce. You may not want your ex-spouse to be the inheritor of all your assets or to hold power of attorney. An estate planning attorney can help revise your will, trusts, and other estate documents to protect your premarital and marital finances and assets to fit your new life. If you’ve never made an estate plan, now is a great time to do so! This involves selecting account beneficiaries, clarifying a living will, assigning powers of attorney, and updating other important authorizations and proxies.

Support for Children

If kids are involved, consider a divorce team for them as well. Children are often heavily impacted by their parents' divorce, potentially leading to mental health issues, behavioral problems, and academic difficulties. To support them, consider the following professionals:

Parenting Coordinator

A parenting coordinator helps separated or divorced parents work through disputes about their kids, aiming for a healthier co-parenting relationship that benefits the children. They handle tasks like creating a parenting schedule, making sure parents stick to agreements, helping parents communicate better, working with divorce attorneys on custody agreements, and navigating tough parenting decisions. If things change later, they can also help revise child custody arrangements. Having a parenting coordinator ensures both parents have equal rights and responsibilities, making sure the child's best interest is always the focus, and making the whole process smoother for the child.

Child Therapist

Remember, your child's life is about to change too. A child therapist can help both parents and children navigate this challenging time. For your child, the therapist provides emotional support, helps them understand their emotions, teaches coping strategies, maintains stability and routine, offers behavioral support, reduces anxiety, and improves communication between the child and parents. For parents, a child therapist can assist in determining whether a particular schedule or decision is best for the child's development and well-being. Overall, a child therapist aims to ensure the child feels heard, understood, and supported throughout the divorce process, promoting their emotional and psychological well-being.

This team offers legal, mental health, and financial support.

At Z Family Law, we provide divorce services and can assist in assembling the right professionals for your divorce team to ensure a secure future. We understand that each situation is unique, and we tailor our services accordingly. If your marriage is ending and divorce is on the table, don't hesitate to reach out to us today at (301) 781-7930!