If you are unhappy in your marriage, you might be thinking about divorce. If you are a stay-at-home parent, however, this situation can be a lot more challenging for you than it is for many. You could be worried about how you will survive and take care of yourself and your children once you are divorced from your spouse, but following a few tips can help you be more prepared.

Hire a Lawyer

First and foremost, you should hire an attorney to help you with your divorce. You might have trouble with issues like child custody if you don't, especially if you don't have an income to support your children with. If you are unsure of how you will pay for an attorney since you aren't working and are relying on your spouse's income, you should start making a plan now. You can contact the legal aid office in your area, like Ivy Law Group PLLC, to find out about free or low-cost legal representation. Another idea is to talk to family members or friends that you trust to ask about assistance.

Gather Evidence Against Your Spouse

If you are planning to get divorced due to some sort of wrongdoing on your spouse's part, it's a good idea to gather evidence before filing divorce. If you are able to prove that your spouse was unfaithful to you, for example, alimony and division of assets could be affected in your favor. Gathering photographs, phone records, or other evidence can also help your case.

Make Copies of Financial Records

Some individuals attempt to "hide" their money before a divorce in order to reduce the amount of alimony and child support that they have to pay. To ensure that you get the money that you rightfully deserve, you should make copies of your spouse's paycheck stubs and tax records from the last several years, if possible. Also, collect information such as bank account balances. Then, you'll be able to prove what is owed to you, even if your spouse tries to hide it.

Make a Plan for Gaining Employment

Another thing you should start thinking about now is how you will gain employment when your divorce is finalized. Now is a good time to start going back to school and to polish your resume so that you can improve your chances of securing a job.

Filing for divorce can be challenging when you are a stay-at-home parent. Luckily, if you follow these steps, you can help make it easier for yourself.

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