A Few Tips to Get Divorced in BC
A divorce is a complex affair and just as with any complex undertaking, it is wise to prepare oneself well beforehand. Many things can get out of hand when you least expect them. Talking in a purely Canadian context, there are many things to avoid before trying to get divorced in BC. Given below are a few steps for you to take prior to filing for divorce.
Do not spend your liquid funds. You’ll need money for things like hiring an attorney in order to get divorced in BC. It might become necessary vacate your matrimonial residence and if so you’ll be required to ay deposit to rent an apartment as well as the rent for last month. Or if you want to buy a house a down payment is essential. In the same way, don’t forget to check all your joint bank accounts. There is every chance for your spouse to withdraw all the cash from your bank account, leaving you penniless. You might possess assets other than liquid cash, but that won’t help you if you need money in a hurry. Also it is not a good idea to take all the cash as it might look bad in the eyes of others. So it is wiser to withdraw half the cash from the account.
Don’t forget to take stock of liabilities like lines of credit, joint credit cards etc. Suppose your spouse get into a shopping spree, you’ll be held liable for much of the cash that he/she spends. So don’t forget to cancel all joint liabilities. Another thing to avoid is to leave your financial records where your spouse can see them, so collect them and store them in a very safe place. Make an inventory of all valuables like jewelry, silverware, works of art, the contents of your safe deposit box etc. If you feel that your spouse is hiding joint assets, check all mail delivered into the house, noting down the names of the senders along with their return address, especially if they are coming from any kind of financial institution.
Never forget to change the beneficiaries of your life insurance, pension and will prior to filing your papers to get divorced in Canada. If the worse comes to worst and you die without doing these, your spouse can inherit all such monies, something you don’t want to happen at all. Also if you happen to hold any property as joint tenants with your spouse sever it the moment you think of divorce. If not, your spouse will be the sole owner of your home, something you don’t want to happen either. Think of your financial condition after divorce and do the needful like going back to school or look for a job.
Avoid emotional or physical breakdowns. Divorce can be very stressful, so ensure that you are in a very good shape both physically and emotionally prior to filing for divorce. You can do this by establishing a pretty good system of support, by seeking the help of your family, friends or at least a counselor. In this way you’re better prepared to go through the stressful process.
Build a track record of involvement in the lives of your children. You are in an advantageous position if you were the primary caregiver to your children before separation and this can be the deciding factor when the time comes to make a decision on child custody. Ensure that you’re the primary caregiver to the children if you want to have custody of your children.
Last but not least, make certain that your spouse is indeed working. If he/she is out of a job for any reason, that means you agree to it. And if your spouse is not employed, it is almost certain that you’ll have to pay for his/her support. By following all these tips you can take the necessary steps in order to get divorced in BC.