The minute you decide to get divorced, your first thought might be: I need to call a lawyer. That’s what everyone says, right?
But before you pick up the phone and sign on the dotted line of a retainer agreement, let’s hit pause. There’s one critical step you need to take first, and skipping it could cost you thousands.
Most women think a divorce attorney should be their first move. But going straight to a lawyer before understanding your financial situation is like walking into a chess match without knowing how the pieces move.
Divorce isn’t just legal. It’s financial.
You’re not just signing papers. You’re dividing a life… one with assets, debts, accounts, investments, property, and more. And if you don’t know what you have or what you’re entitled to, how can you protect it?
Hiring a lawyer without having a handle on the money can leave you vulnerable. You might agree to a bad deal simply because you didn’t realize there was a better option. Or worse, you might spend a fortune on legal fees just trying to figure out what’s going on.
Here’s what I want you to do before anything else: Start by understanding your family’s finances. Gather important financial documents and take a look at them so you have an idea of how much money you have and where it is. You should be trying to get your bank statements, credit card bills, tax returns, and retirement account information. Look at what’s coming in, what’s going out, what you own, and what you owe. You don’t need a finance degree to do this. You just need a clear head and a good plan.
When you walk into a divorce attorney’s office already organized and informed, you are in the driver’s seat. You’re not asking your lawyer to figure it all out. You’re telling your lawyer what’s important to you.
If you skip this step and walk into an attorney’s office without knowing the facts about the money, you risk making bad moves during the divorce. Things like:
- Fighting to keep the house without realizing you can’t afford it
- Missing where your ex is hiding assets because you didn’t know where to look
- Taking on more debt than you should
- Spending thousands more in attorney’s fees just to sort through the mess
Attorneys are important. You will need one. But hiring a lawyer without a plan can lead to wasted time, unnecessary conflict, and outcomes that don’t serve you long term.
So, when should you get an attorney?
- After you have a strategy.
- After you understand your finances.
- After you know what you want your post-divorce life to look like.
That’s when an attorney becomes a powerful advocate for your goals, instead of a very expensive decision-maker trying to guess what’s best for you.
Need a roadmap to get started? Check out the Divorce STRATEGY Guide. It’s one of our less expensive courses, and it’s designed to help you be smart, be strategic, and win your divorce. The guide is meant to quickly show you the most important things you need to know and do in your divorce to get the best possible financial settlement. This course gives you a clear, step-by-step plan so you can take control, protect your future, and make confident decisions… right from the start.
