Divorce Tips for Women in Vermont

• Filing for divorce from your husband in Vermont can be difficult and painful. schale image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com

  The realization that your marriage has irretrievably broken down and that obtaining a divorce is the best option can be very painful. However, many women who decide to obtain a divorce do not immediately realize how draining and time-consuming the legal process of obtaining a divorce can be. To minimize the disruption to your life that obtaining a divorce in Vermont can cause, there are a number of issues that a woman should think about and resolve before filing.

Gathering Documents and Evidence

• In a Vermont divorce the typical hotly contested issues are property distribution, alimony and child custody. If the divorce is not amicable, having reliable copies of bank statements, financial account statements, property records, credit card statements and prior tax returns will be important in determining property distribution. Gathering copies of financial documents before filing for divorce in Vermont is important because of the possibility that your husband may attempt to sell off or hide financial assets after you file for divorce.

  Furthermore, it would be prudent to gather evidence of any marital fault before filing, such as abuse, neglect or adultery. This can include voice mail messages or email messages found on computers, the testimony and recollection of friends and photographs of physical injuries.

Think About Your Personal Finances and Living Situation

• After filing for divorce in Vermont, it is very likely that your living situation will change drastically. When you file for divorce in Vermont, you are actually filing for separation. The period of separation must last at least 180 days, during which you and your husband cannot live together. Therefore, before filing for separation, think about where you will be able to live.

  If your husband is not likely to vacate the marital home, be sure that you have a place to stay or enough money to rent an apartment. Additionally, be sure that you have enough money to cover living expenses. While a higher-earning spouse in Vermont may be obligated to pay spousal support during a separation period, a judge will typically take a few months before approving spousal support payments.

Hire an Attorney

• Obtaining a divorce in Vermont is doable without the assistance of an attorney if you and your husband are able to agree to the terms of property distribution and there are no children to the marriage. However, if there are children or a lot of marital financial assets, hiring an attorney may be wise even if you and your husband are able to agree. If your divorce is contested, hiring an attorney is highly advisable. Some family law firms retain mental health counselors and therapists, who are helpful in dealing with the emotional traumas of divorce.