The idea of having to get a job after divorce in Oklahoma, after many years of being out of the work force, can be overwhelming and a very common fear. Many couples make the decision to have one parent stay home and take care of the children when they begin the adventure into parenthood.
While one parent continues to work and advance in their career, the other parent raises the children; cares for their emotional, physical, and educational needs; and typically cares for the household.
One job is not more important than the other, however. When divorce occurs, it can make supporting oneself after separation difficult with little to no employment history or experience. Adequately preparing yourself for the possibility of getting a job after divorce is essential, and your knowledgeable attorney should be able to tell you your chances of having to get a job after divorce occurs.
There are several steps your family law attorney will advise you to take if there is a possibility of having to get a job after divorce and how to properly protect yourself, your assets and your future.
Gain Access to Important Documents
While child support continues normally until your youngest child is 18, spousal support is not guaranteed to be permanent, thus the inevitability of eventually getting a job after divorce before collecting Social Security is high. What you can control is how soon you have to get a job after divorce, this depends on proper preparation and getting the assets you deserve in the settlement.
If you think you will have a high conflict divorce or you fear your spouse could hide assets, it is important to gain access to this information prior to your family law attorney filing for divorce. These documents include:
- Spouse’s W-2s and two years of tax returns
- Pay stubs and any family business financial documents
- Bank account statements
- Insurance policy statements
- Statements for any investment accounts, retirement accounts, or pension information
Essential Information to Obtain Prior to Filing
It is possible that because you have been the stay at home parent during the duration of the marriage that you have little to no access to information about assets. However, in order to prolong getting a job after divorce, it is important to understand what assets you have and their values.
In order to obtain the above documents, you must be able to gain access to these accounts. It is advisable to be added to these accounts or have access to their information before filing for divorce. Your family law attorney, which you should obtain as soon as possible, will help you figure out how to gain access to this information.
Another piece of information you will want to have in order to extend the period of having to get a job after divorce is knowing the value of the family home and all real estate that you and your spouse own. Knowing this information will help you receive a fair buyout of the home if you are forced to move. If you stay in the family home, you don’t want your spouse to claim the home is worth more than it truly is because this may decrease the amount of other assets you could receive.
Lastly, take stock of all the assets you have and make a list of what is really important for you to have after the divorce. It is advisable to take pictures of these assets so they don’t go “missing” or aren’t sold.
Looking Toward Your Future After Divorce
While getting a job after divorce is not required, it is important to think about your future and decide how you will support yourself and your children if you are awarded custody. Child support and alimony does not always cover monthly expenses. However, an important step your family law attorney should help you with is being awarded temporary spousal and child support while going through the divorce process.
The first step toward your future is creating your new “single person” budget. Calculate expenses, bills, entertainment costs, education expenses, etc. While some of this may be covered by child support, or your spouse makes partial payments, having an idea of what your budget will look like will help when considering whether you need to get a job after divorce.
Since you will probably be applying for your own credit cards, obtaining loans, or eventually buying a house, you want to make sure you manage your credit score. Try to pay off existing debts prior to filing for divorce, as long as these debts were incurred during marriage.
Lastly, consider a profession or educational degree that you deferred in order to raise your children. In some cases, your spouse may be required by the courts to pay for you to go through job training or go back to school to get a degree in an area you want to be employed in.
Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Child Support Attorney
Consulting with an attorney as soon as possible in this situation is very important in order to understand if you will have to get a job after divorce. An attorney can help you gather asset information and advise you on what you may receive in a divorce settlement.
Hiring a knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney will ensure the process is expertly conducted, and your interests are well represented.
Contact an experienced Tulsa family law attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma divorce process.
For a low-cost confidential consultation, call now: (918) 924-5526.