At the beginning of any year, there is usually an influx in divorce filings in Texas. Many people delay initiating divorce proceedings until after the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The following are my 3 simple tips should you be contemplating a divorce in 2014:

1. Be aware of your Assets – Before you meet with an attorney regarding a divorce in Texas, make sure you have the most recent financial information for both yourself and your spouse. Beneficial financial information would include the most recent tax returns, your pay stubs, your spouse’s pay stubs, any and all bank account statements, and any and all retirement statements. It is imperative for you to be able to explain to an attorney exactly what assets you two have individually and together. Gathering this information will likely save you attorney’s fees in the long run.

2. Be aware of your Debts – You should be familiar with any outstanding debts of you and your spouse. Being able to tell your divorce attorney what debts you each have individually or together aids the attorney with regards to the financial landscape of your divorce. Beneficial debt information would be the most recent credit card statements, any tax debt information, car notes, loan statements, and mortgage statements.

3. Be involved in your children’s lives – Should there ever be a dispute as to who should be the children’s primary caretaker, you will need to advise your attorney as to your involvement in your children’s lives. You need to be familiar with your child’s teachers, doctors, friends, and extracurricular activities. You need to be an active participant in your children’s daily life such as getting them to school, picking them up from school, attending school and extracurricular activities, getting them ready for bed, feeding them, helping them with homework, bathing them, and taking them to the doctor.