When the day comes that you and your spouse share vows with one another, the least likely thought in your mind is on divorce. Unfortunately, later down the marriage road, divorce is quite common in today’s era. In fact, in the United States alone, close to half of married couples end in divorce.

If you find the word divorce is looming over your relationship, it is something to take seriously. The decisions you and your spouse make throughout the process can dictate how smoothly (or how bumpy) the divorce goes. Especially if you have children involved, you want the separation not to cause too much pain in the family. However, that is not always the case.

So, if you find you are one of the many people around the world whose marriage is ending in divorce, here are some tips to help you maneuver through the process.

Hire a Divorce Attorney

Going through a divorce means there will be a lot of legal items to understand. If you do not understand what you are being told or have to sign, it could cause you much trouble down the road.

Hiring an experienced divorce attorney will be worth every penny. Especially if you have children, a lot of assets or complicated finances, a divorce attorney will be able to explain all the legality behind divorce in more straightforward terms to understand. If the divorce process turns complicated, your attorney is there to represent your best interests. Even if the divorce process is smooth, your attorney will help guide you through the courts and paperwork.

Make Copies of Important Documents

Once you decide divorce is inevitable, start making copies of all important personal documents you have. Bank statements, tax records, investments, wills, insurance policies, basically anything that is of importance to you. It is a good idea to keep a copy of all of these in a secure location only accessible by you.

Be Prepared for Legal Fees

Going through a divorce is not the cheapest process to go through. There are many legal fees to pay, including your divorce attorney. Start setting aside money as soon as possible or you may find yourself unable to pay for everything.

Keep Your Emotions in Check

Acting emotionally and irrationally is the quickest way to do something you will either regret or end up costing you in the long run. Keep a levelled head as much as possible. Going through a divorce can be irritating and bring out a lot of bottled-up emotion, but lashing out against your spouse or speaking poorly about them on social media could sway the judge’s opinion against you.

Don’t Use the Children

Children see more than most people think and react to how their parents feel and interact with each other. If you are going through a divorce, use this moment as a teaching opportunity for your children, not as pawns to hurt your spouse.

A divorce may be difficult for you, but it is most likely more difficult and can be traumatic for your children. Quite often, kids will think they are the reason their parents are getting a divorce. So, make your children’s wellbeing and safety your top priority and try to leave them out of the divorce process.