New Jersey residents who want to get a divorce have serious thinking to do. There are certain steps you must take before you file with the court.

Know that it’s what you truly want

In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to get caught up in your emotions and tell your spouse you want a divorce. However, this can be a mistake if you haven’t thought it through and they might take you seriously. Always know that you truly want to end your marriage first.

Gather and organize your important documents

Once you’ve decided that divorce is what you want, you should gather your financial documents. Include anything related to insurance and estate planning in that as well. You need everything together and organized in a way that you can easily sort through. You will want to know where your finances stand in terms of a potential divorce and what you might expect.

Open your own accounts

If you have joint bank and credit accounts with your spouse, you will want to separate them as soon as possible. This is especially urgent if your spouse is bad with finances. Open savings and checking accounts in your own name and open at least one credit card account that’s in your name only. If you’ve never had your own credit card, this is a good opportunity to establish your own strong credit score and reputation. You may also want to close any joint credit cards held by you and your spouse.

Consider your children

If you have children, think about how to lessen the impact on them when you tell them you’re getting a divorce. You should plan to go through a divorce that’s as amicable as possible for their sake. Mediation or collaborative divorce are good options.

Keep all of these tips in mind if you choose to file for divorce. It will make things easier.