BEN'S SMART DIVORCE CHECKLIST

DO List:

Make sure you have a good/current inventory of all property, owned separately or jointly in the marriage.

Make sure you know where all of your cash or other liquid assets are prior to filing; consult with your attorney about protecting these assets during the divorce proceedings.

Make sure you know all of your current debt [credit cards] balances before sitting down with an attorney. (Now's the time to make a list!)

Make sure [once a lawsuit has been filed] that all credit cards are turned off [to prevent the other spouse from running them up after the legal "bomb" is dropped]. Most credit card companies will open new cards for either/both spouses...but check with the credit card company first before you pull the plug.

Make sure you keep contacts with your attorney [or his assistants] as brief as possible. Don't skimp, but make every call/conversation count. You might want to make a list of questions and fax these to your attorney; this way you'll have time to make sure all of your questions are clear and it'll help you avoid multiple calls. [Remember: Every call/contact will show up on your bill!] Also: Find out what "increments" your attorney bills in. You may find that if you talk for only 5 minutes you'll figure out on your next bill that you were charged for 15 minutes (a common billing increment for many Dallas-Fort Worth based attorneys).

DON'T List:

Clean out all of your bank accounts and "hide the money" without getting proper direction from your attorney.

Let the emotions of the legal turmoil force you into making multiple calls to your attorney or their assistant; you'll pay the price when you get your bill at the end of the month!

Expect to be able to correspond with your attorney or their assistants via e-mail; most lawyers agree it's extremely unsafe to use this method for exchanging attorney-client privileged information.

Agree (either verbally or in writing) to ANYTHING without getting your attorney's approval, first and always! You've hired an attorney to protect your interests...so let them do their job!

Agree to any sort of settlement without making sure that you are off any and all liabilities, or potential liabilities. This means NO DEAL unless and until you're released from all joint obligations, such as mortgages, credit cards and auto leases/loans. You must first be released–either through re-financing or retirement of the debts–prior to signing the final agreement. Otherwise, you could be haunted for years to come by your soon-to-be-ex-spouse.  

NOTE: Thanks to Dallas attorney Brian Webb* for his time and knowledge for this information and segment on Good Morning Texas. Some of the information originates from Mr. Webb; many of the strategies [especially those surrounding joint debt obligations] are from Benjamin Dover.

For more on-line information about divorce and divorce-related strategies, click here.

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