Divorce often requires complex decision-making and compromise on difficult topics such as asset distribution, child custody, and alimony.
You may have your hands so full with your divorce that you haven’t planned on what you can do after it’s finalized. What happens immediately after divorce could determine how you spend the rest of your life. Here’s what you can consider doing after divorce:
Prioritize your well being
Divorce is painful, and people will experience a lot of changes soon after. It can help people to seek therapy after their divorce. You may find talking about the difficulties of your marriage and how you want to move forward beneficial for your future. Many therapists help people rebuild their lives after sudden changes like divorce.
Focus on the kids
Difficulties in a marriage can create a lot of tension with children. An especially controlling or combative spouse could have created a drift in the relationship you had with your children. You may find that you’ll have more time and freedom to spend with your children after divorce. Get involved with your children’s interests, create new traditions, and catch up on quality time that you’ve missed.
Reinvigorate your hobbies
Your marriage may have cost you one of your favorite hobbies. Perhaps you enjoyed painting, making music, going fishing, spending time with friends or shopping. Now is a great time to reignite hobbies and use new-found spare time to do things that bring you joy. Other activities such as meditation or yoga can keep you active while providing an outlet as a way to begin recovery from your divorce.
Revise your estate plans
Most spouses include each other in their estate plans. Your spouse may have been named a prominent heir in the estate plan and was named to gain most or all of your assets and investments. You may have also given your spouse power of attorney to act on your behalf if you suffered an injury or medical conditions that would incapacitate you. After divorce, you may want to revise your estate plans to reflect the changes in the relationship you now have with your spouse.
Understand your legal rights
Divorce doesn’t always mean your relationship with your spouse is over. There may still be legal matters that need to be considered. For example, in a shared custody arrangement, how will your legal documents protect your children? Work with an attorney who specializes in Wills and Estates to modify documents that protect you and your children in the event of unforeseen circumstances or death.
If you’re going through a divorce, contact an attorney to guide you through your legal options. At Poppe & Associates, our focus is relentless advocacy for our clients. If you or someone you know is considering divorce, reach out to schedule a consultation by calling 646-665-3903 or through our online form.
Let Me Be Your Brave
Mia Poppe, Esq.
Managing Partner