Divorce often requires that one spouse – or both, in some cases – move from the marital home. Finding a new home isn’t always easy, especially during a stressful time like divorce, but it’s often unavoidable. Your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer will advise you on the best time to move during the divorce process in order to protect yourself, your children and your assets. However, it’s a good idea to start searching for a new place to live as soon as you and your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer have agreed that you should move.
Finding the Best Space for Yourself and Your Family
Moving is stressful. Couple a major move with divorce and you have a genuinely tough time on your hands – but finding a space that makes you comfortable can make all the difference in the world. However, you’ll need to talk to your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer prior to making a move, both to make sure your timing is right and to make sure your rights are protected.
Budgetary Concerns During a Move
Whether you’re purchasing or renting a new home, it might be difficult to find a suitable place that fits within your budget. Ask your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer if he or she knows a local real estate agent who can help you look for something within your budget (many real estate agents have an inside scoop on rentals you won’t find advertised online or in the paper).
Location, Location, Location
Consult with your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer before you choose a new neighborhood, particularly if you have children. During your divorce, you may wish to or be required to keep your kids in their original school – and if you move out of the area, you’ll have to get them there each morning and pick them up each afternoon.
In some cases, children cannot be relocated out of a certain radius of the other parent. Ask your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer if this applies to you and your family.
If you don’t have children, it’s generally fine for you to move anywhere you wish. However, you should check with your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer to make sure you’re moving at the right time during your divorce.
Moving Slip-Ups
Your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer will advise you on what you can and cannot take with you when you move. Ideally, you’ll avoid any major slip-ups (and thereby arguments) during the process by consulting with your lawyer before packing up the moving truck. Your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer may tell you:
- to avoid removing any furniture or other items with questionable ownership
- to leave your spouse’s belongings untouched
- to attempt to agree with your spouse about what’s yours and what’s theirs
If you cannot agree with your spouse on ownership of certain pieces of property, your Richmond Hill divorce lawyer may say it’s best to leave them behind and start over.
While moving can be an “extra” stress during the divorce process, it is a necessary one – and one that should eventually result in your life becoming easier.
