Divorce is rarely easy for any Georgia couple. Even if you are parting on relatively amicable terms, you are still going to have to divide up some property as part of your divorce, and the property division process may quickly become more complex than you initially realized.
Keeping the following things in mind can help you minimize stress and increase your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome with your property division.
Slow down and take your time
Once you’ve decided to divorce, you may feel tempted to get the process over with as soon as you can. While efficiency is important, so is carefully considering each decision you make.
Your spouse knows you well, and they may sense that you are anxious to finalize the divorce. This could lead to them taking advantage of you and trying to convince you to accept a property division settlement that is not in your best interest.
Take your time. This not only goes for dividing your property but identifying and valuing your property as well. Make sure you have a complete list of marital assets and debts. If you have suspicions your spouse is hiding assets, it may be worth your time and money to investigate more.
Experienced divorce attorneys can help with discovering hidden assets. Discovery can be served on your spouse, asking them to produce documents or answer questions under oath. If you fear they will give false information, it might be better to serve discovery directly to banks or financial institutions.
While having valuations conducted on major assets will probably extend your divorce process, this is an important step that should not be overlooked. You do not want to finish your divorce, only to discover that an asset you received is worth less than you thought.
Try alternative dispute resolution
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a relatively peaceful divorce. Some divorces are downright ugly.
No matter your circumstances, do not assume your only option is going to court. Alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation, often produce better results than traditional courtroom litigation. Do not automatically dismiss this option because you are not on good terms with your spouse.