If you have made the decision to file for divorce in 2025, preparing for this life-changing transition is essential. Here are some key tips to help you approach the New Jersey divorce process with confidence and greater clarity.
Prepare Yourself for Divorce
Before filing, take time to answer some big picture questions:
- What does the divorce process look like in New Jersey? [Check out our NJ Divorce 101 road map.]
- How is child custody determined in New Jersey?
- What will happen to significant marital assets like your home or retirement accounts?
- What do you want your life to look like after divorce? Where will you live? What is your work? What are your goals?
- What steps can you take to maintain emotional well-being during this time?
Having a clear understanding of the process you are about to enter into – and your vision for your future when you emerge on the other side – can help you make informed decisions and move forward with greater clarity. Answering these questions may require self-reflection and a little detective work. As 2024 closes, you may want to make some preliminary appointments with a family law attorney, therapist, or financial advisor if needed, to get a better understanding of your rights and the best way to move forward in your situation.
Get Organized
Divorce involves an overwhelming amount of paperwork and decisions. Use a notebook or digital system to keep track of legal, financial, and emotional aspects. If you have children, consider using a co-parenting app to manage schedules and communication. Keeping everything organized will reduce stress and help you feel more in control.
Update for 2025: Think twice about using your phone or other device for keeping track of divorce IF you have a shared cloud account with your spouse. Notes apps, word docs, emails, texts and logins can sync across connected devices, putting your privacy at risk.
Take Charge of Your Finances
Has your spouse traditionally handled the family’s finances? You may be in the dark about how much your family spends every month to sustain your lifestyle or how much you have in savings, retirement, or investment portfolios. In divorce, everything from asset division to alimony and child support uses financial information provided by spouses, so your access to these records is critical.
To start getting a handle on your marital finances, use our free financial checklist PDF for a list of the documents and statements you can gather to start forming a picture of your finances. Run a credit report to help you identify joint accounts (that you may or may not know about).
If your spouse has been the one managing household finances, now is the time to gain financial literacy. Start tracking your expenses, create a budget, and gather all necessary documents, including:
- Tax returns
- Pay stubs
- Bank and credit card statements
- Retirement and brokerage account information
Understanding your financial picture will empower you to negotiate better terms and plan for your future.
Divorce in 2025 Tip: Gathering this information before you meet with an attorney can help your first meeting become instantly more productive as you have some real financial figures to discuss.
Start Your Divorce on the Right Foot
How you begin your divorce will set the tone for the entire process. Aim for an amicable, low-conflict approach whenever possible. This doesn’t mean being friends with your ex—it means treating the process as a professional negotiation to save time, money, and emotional strain.
Avoid hiring an unnecessarily aggressive attorney who might escalate conflict. Instead, choose a lawyer who prioritizes strategy and resolution.
Learn to Manage Stress
Divorce is emotionally draining, but staying calm and focused is crucial. Whether you’re prone to fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses, learning to manage your stress is vital. Therapy, mindfulness practices, and divorce stress reduction techniques can help you stay grounded and make better decisions.
Divorce in 2025: Ready to Begin?
Whether you’re filing now or preparing to file in the new year, our experienced family law attorneys are here to guide you. Schedule a consultation today to get answers and a tailored strategy for your divorce. Call us at 888-888-0919, or click the green button below to get started.