Preparing for a divorce is a complex and emotionally challenging process that involves multiple facets, from the legal aspects to the emotional well-being of those involved. Understanding how to prepare for it and getting the right people on your team is key to better results. Seeking out an experienced divorce attorney, therapist, divorce coach, and divorce financial analyst as needed to help at different times with different issues can make the journey smoother. Each divorce is unique, so tailoring your preparation to your specific situation is key to achieving the best possible results. In this episode of Her Empowered Divorce, your Host, Beverly Price, talks to Lisa Zeiderman, a matrimonial attorney, CFL, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Managing Partner at Miller Zeiderman LLP, based in New York. Together, they discuss preparations for divorce, the steps you need to take to get the best results, and the professional you need in your divorce team to help you navigate the complexities of divorce, make informed decisions, and work towards a more positive future.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

· If you are thinking about divorce, you should first sit down and create a spreadsheet of assets, liabilities, and expenses and gather documents such as tax returns, brokerage statements, bank statements, and credit card statements for backup when you consult an attorney.

· Word of mouth and support group recommendations can help you find a good match for your divorce process. You can also get a good match from bar associations, ABA sites, super lawyers sites, LinkedIn, and podcasts.

· What should I look for in an attorney, and what questions to ask? Look for an attorney who is listening, understands your situation, and has experience doing the kind of work needed in your case. They need to click, and if you feel like you are in a hustle and have a genuine difference in opinion during the consultation, they might not be a good fit.

· How can I be the best client for my attorney? The first thing is to be truthful, detailed, timely, and realistic with your expectations. Divorce is like a second job; being truthful, transparent, timely, and realistic will help you get the best results and build a relationship with your attorney.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

· Overwhelm is how people feel in a divorce, and sometimes attorneys may overlook the fact that you are not used to the terminologies and what is going on. Having a divorce team is crucial because you can ask the divorce coach, therapist, or financial analyst questions to help you understand what's happening. (Lisa)

· The number one mistake you can make in a divorce is letting your emotions hijack you, so you lose the ability to think clearly and make good decisions. Unless you work through that, your attorney can't be as effective because you are not fulfilling the role of being an educated and informed client. (Beverly)

· Being truthful is very important; you do not want your attorney to be blindsided or go to court and find out something different from what you are saying because they will look foolish in front of the judge. Make sure you are an accurate recorder. (Lisa)

· There are so many limitations for settlement, so don't set your standards so high that it's impossible to meet; you need to understand that there is an income that is less to go around, and you

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