If you and your partner are considering ending your marriage, it's important to consider how your lives will change as you move forward separately. Even if you've only been married a short time, divorce carries many consequences that can be tricky - although not impossible - to deal with. The more you can prepare yourself emotionally before your separation, the better you'll be able to deal with your new life as a single adult. Here's what you need to know.







First off, make sure you understand how you'll deal with the financial side of divorce. In some cases, you may be able to share an attorney with your spouse. This can reduce your out-of-pocket costs when it comes to courtroom and attorney fees. In other cases, you may need your own attorney. This can be costly; however, its important that you seek the appropriate legal representation that you need to move forward during this time. Additionally, many adults don't consider that after divorce, you'll need to essentially restart your life. You'll need to buy a new house or rent an apartment, get new furniture, and probably even buy a new trashcan. These expenses can quickly add up, so make sure you're ready to deal with them.





It's also important to consider how you'll handle custody arrangements. In some cases, you and your partner may agree on how you'll share custody of your children and any pets you may have. In other cases, arranging custody can be a bit trickier. Remember that you can consult with your attorney for more options on how to share custody. If you and your partner plan to live in different cities or states after the divorce, you'll need to consider a number of custody options. For example, will the children spend their summers with you? Will they take holidays with your partner? Where will your pets primarily live? Additionally, a mediation attorney can help you and your partner discuss these arrangements.





Finally, make sure that you and your former spouse discuss how you'll handle telling your friends and family members about the divorce. Talk with one another about how you'll handle social arrangements and relationships. Chances are that you share business contacts and friendships, which means it's important that neither one of you speak poorly about the other person. Try to stay classy as much as possible during the divorce process. Even when your spouse frustrates you, it's important that you focus on moving forward and separating your lives: not on retaliation. In some cases, you and your partner may choose to make a public statement on social media about your separation. In other cases, you may prefer to tell your friends and family members privately. No matter how you handle letting people know, make sure you're on the same page.





No matter what caused you and your spouse to decide to end your marriage, make sure that you stay focused during this time. Try to avoid rehashing old arguments or placing blame with one another. Instead, focus on how you can end your marriage swiftly and go your separate ways. This will enable you to move forward and begin living your own life as soon as possible.



