Did you know that your actions leading up to and following the filing of a Pennsylvania Divorce can affect your rights?
Below are 5 things you should ask an experienced family law attorney BEFORE taking action:
Should I Move out of the Marital Home?
Are you the higher earning spouse? Did you know that moving out of the marital home may obligate you to pay spousal support? This can be true even if a divorce complaint has not been filed. Consult with an attorney before making the move. It could save you thousands in the end.
Can I purchase new investments?
That’s a tricky one . . . it is possible, but you better be able to prove that the funds used were not marital or your ex may be able to cash in. Sometimes it’s better to hold off until the divorce is finalized. An attorney will be able to advise you on your specific situation.
Can I sell my Furniture?
Your plan is to downsize following your divorce; so can you sell off some items now to help pay divorce costs? Generally spouses are not permitted to dissipate any marital assets during a divorce. You may or may not be able to sell your belongings prior to finalization of the divorce; consult with an attorney BEFORE selling such property to assure the sale will not lead to possible sanctions by the court.
Should I Close our Joint Account?
Unless you have an agreement with your spouse, probably not. This could also be considered dissipating marital assets, a big no-no while a divorce is on-going. The correct way to handle your finances during a divorce will depend on the specific facts of your case. The only way to assure your finances are protected is to obtain the advice of an experienced Pennsylvania Divorce Attorney.
Can I Take the Children?
Depends . . . is there a custody order in place? Do you have safety concerns about the child being in the other party’s care? What has the status quo custody arrangement been? These are just some of the variables considered in answering this common question. Running off with your child could score you a night in the county jail and possible felony charges (yes, our firm has seen this occur!). Contact us first to find out if leaving with your child(ren) could get you in hot water.
These are just a few of the things you should ask your attorney during a Pennsylvania divorce. Contact us today to speak with an experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney who can advise on the best way to proceed with your family law issue.