What You Need to Know Before Filing for Divorce

Avoid common mistakes, save thousands, and protect your future by planning ahead.

Divorce is one of the most emotional and high-stakes transitions you’ll ever face — and yet, most people walk into it completely unprepared. It’s not your fault. We’re often told, “Talk to a lawyer,” and assume that’s the first step. But what you do *before* you hire an attorney can shape your entire process — and your outcome.

If you’ve been asking yourself how to prepare for divorce, the right divorce strategy for women starts *before* you ever set foot in a lawyer’s office.

Here are five things I wish every woman knew before filing for divorce:

1. Lawyers Are Not Organizers

When I went through my own divorce, I remember feeling overwhelmed by paperwork and decisions. I thought hiring a lawyer right away was the safest step, but I quickly learned that so much of what I paid for was really just organizational work I could have done myself. That experience is why I want other women to know—you don’t have to go through it blind, and you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on tasks you can handle with the right guidance.

Lawyers are legal professionals. They’re not going to collect your documents, create a timeline, or help you think through your parenting schedule. But they will charge you for every minute you ask them to.

Be organized going in, and you’ll save thousands.

2. You’ll Need Documents — A Lot of Them

Bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs, mortgage records, retirement accounts, child care receipts... The sooner you start gathering this, the better.

Pro tip: Start a digital folder and label everything clearly. If your spouse controls the finances, discreetly gather what you can before tensions rise.

3. Divorce Is Expensive — But It Doesn’t Have to Be

The average divorce costs $15,000–$50,000 or more. Much of that isn’t because of conflict — it’s because people are disorganized, reactive, and unclear on what’s coming next.

Being prepared is the single most important step in learning how to prepare for divorce without draining your bank account.

4. You Don’t Have to Make Every Decision Today

You’ll be asked:
- What custody schedule do you want?
- Do you want to keep the house?
- Are you asking for child support?

You don’t need to decide everything now. But you do need to know which questions are coming — so you can prepare before you’re pressured.

This is why developing a thoughtful divorce strategy for women is so important: it keeps you ahead of the questions rather than trapped by them.

5. You’re Not Crazy, and You’re Not Alone

That anxious, overwhelmed feeling? Emotions that are triggered on a dime? Totally normal. The key is to slow down, get clear, and surround yourself with people (and resources) who will support your decision-making, not pressure it.

Next Step: Download Your Free Pre-Divorce Checklist

Getting ready for divorce isn’t just about knowing what’s ahead — it’s about being prepared. That’s why I created a Free Pre-Divorce Checklist you can download from my website. It walks you through exactly what to gather, document, and consider *before* filing so you can save money, reduce stress, and protect your future.

Download the Free Pre-Divorce Checklist

Final Word:

This isn’t just divorce prep. It’s life prep. And the earlier you start preparing for divorce, the more control you’ll have over your future.