Family Law Attorney Leslie Fineberg Discusses Tips on Preparing for Separation during the Holidays

By Nottage and Ward on December 17, 2012

Knowing that you are heading towards separation or divorce after the holidays can make getting through the holidays more difficult, but the answer is not pretending it’s not going to happen or ignoring the holidays in order to prepare, especially when you have children. As an experienced Illinois family law attorney at Nottage and Ward, Leslie Fineberg encourages families to prepare for what lies ahead but to also remember that the holidays don’t have to be sacrificed, and shouldn’t be if you have children.

The Huffington Post offers some helpful tips for how you and your spouse can prepare for divorce or separation during the holidays:

• Create new holiday traditions that can be carried over into the next year when you’ll be separated into two households.
• Find holiday activities that have low or no cost. Finances have an important role in any separation and the holidays tend to encourage overspending.
• It doesn’t hurt to look into mediation or other options before the holidays kick in. You may even come up with a plan for the holidays.
• Have a conversation (or at least try) about budgeting during the holidays. This is especially important if you and your spouse hold joint credit accounts.
• Keep communication open and set a good example for your kids.
• Start collecting financial records, but be prepared to update those records once the holidays are over. It would also be a good idea to get a copy of your credit report.

Preparing for separation is not easy, but with the help of an experienced separation attorney, you can make sure you have all the information and resources you need to get through the process smoothly. To discuss your situation with the legal team at Nottage and Ward, contact us today.