SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

I think that I am on the road to D and getting closer every day. So I would like to ask everyone that is separated/divorced, what do you wish you had known/done before filing? What would you have done differently in retrospect?

If you have a household safe, get it out of the house in a secure location. Also, I moved all the tax documents and financial documents I could lay my hands on to a friend's house. Take your half out of the joint bank account--I got cleaned out. File first, and be sure you change the locks. I'm living in legal limbo and he's a roommate. Don't do that. Call all credit cards and close them/have your name removed from the account. Don't leave your purse lying around in its normal location--he went through that, too. Check your state's laws and file first, file first, file first. Best of luck to you.

I absolutely,positively,would have used a mediator to get most of the divorce details together first,much cheaper.The mediator can do almost everything and the attorney can just finialize for you .I definitely didn't understand this as an option back then,money just vaporizes when the attorneys are involved.

I would have avoided in-house S like the plague. It really does suck. I only had to deal with it for a few months but it felt like time stood still. If you can get your WS to leave or get exclusive use of the home if you are keeping it I recommend doing it. Or if you want to move out if WS is keeping the house that works as well. Also make sure you get copies of ALL relevant documents prior to filing. I'm talking SS cards, prior tax returns, copies of bills, birth certificates, passports, medication, and anything else you think is important.

[This message edited by 7yrsflushed at 9:34 AM, February 26th (Wednesday)]

I wish i would have realized i needed counseling due to the situation, way before I stared IC.

I wish I had filed for D on August 13, 2013, the day after I found out about all the texting and phone calls. It just took my heart too flipping long to catch up to my brain. I KNEW what the texting & phone calls meant, but I didn't want to believe it. I'd be D by now if I would have done that. Or, I would be R. Shock and awe is the best way (hindsight is 20/20) to break the fog.

Whatever, looking forward to happy days ahead!

I wish I had filed for divorce as soon as I knew he was a cheating bastard. I wish I wouldn't have bothered with limbo/false R and MC, as it was a complete waste of time, money, and emotional pain. False hope is a bigger bitch than karma.

Make sure you are well versed in all the finances. Make copies of investment, pension plan, life insurance, banking or any other asset statements. Also make copies of all debts owed. Keep track of all living expenses incurred.

Get your ducks in a row. Have a plan. There's nothing worse than sitting in a lawyer's office and not having an idea of what you're going to do.