Protect Your Best Interests During Divorce With These Tips And Tricks

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Getting divorced is never an enjoyable experience, but it doesn't have to be a process that makes you feel dumped on or overlooked when you're negotiating things like child custody and alimony. Here are three things you can do to protect your best interests throughout your divorce proceedings:

Hire a Private Investigator

A private investigator isn't just for tailing people you want to spy on, although they are pretty good at that. But you don't have to spy on your soon to be ex-spouse in order to get some support and protection from a private investigator, like those at Paramount Detective Agency, Inc. Hire one to help you do the following:

• Locate assets that you think might be hidden from you.
• Verify living arrangements to gain proof of non-compliance of the court.
• Document activities that may be in violation of child visitation or support payments.

A private investigator should also be able to serve your spouse or their lawyers with any documents that they'll need for upcoming court dates so you don't have to do it.

Consider Mediation Services

Professional mediation services provide an unbiased solution to creating divorce agreements both parties will be satisfied with, so they may very well save you from having to see the inside of a courtroom altogether. There are many benefits of choosing to use divorce mediation services such as:

• You get to set the pace of the overall divorce process.
• You get encouragement to work together so there's less stress.
• Privacy because you can stay away from the courtroom.
• The opportunity to save some money on attorney costs and other fees.

If you feel that you need extra support or representation during mediation meetings, you can have a lawyer present to walk you through the process when tough decisions need to be made.

Keep a Documentation Diary

One of the most important things you can do for yourself is keep a documentation diary to use on a daily basis. It's important to use regularly or you may overlook recording something that's needed in court or during mediation. This diary should be the place to document:

• Child visitation events.
• Any costs and fees associated with the divorce.
• Any problems or issues being causes by your soon-to-be ex.

It's a good idea to keep receipts for things like child care and joint credit card payments that you make if you want those payments to be considered when you're negotiating child or spousal support payments. This is helpful whether you expect to receive or make support payments.

Invest in Professional Counseling

The process of going through a divorce will undoubtedly put added stress on your day to day life which can be tough to deal with when you're trying to keep up with your work and personal responsibilities. A counselor or therapist can provide you with much needed support through this tough time and arm you with new coping skills to make the process easier on yourself and your family. Some of the many benefits a counselor can offer include:

• Get an objective perspective of your situation from beginning to end.
• Work through feelings of grief, anger, guilt, and more.
• Learn to support other family members, especially children, sufficiently.
• Gain insight into adjusting to changes after the divorce.

Seeing a counselor just two or three times a month can make a big difference in your outlook and peace of mind both during and after the divorce.

It's impossible to guarantee that the outcome of your divorce will end up just how you want it, but these methods will help to ensure that you don't get the short end of the stick. Even using just one of them will be effective, but together you'll create a powerhouse of support for yourself.

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2 September 2014