There is a lot you must keep track of during a divorce in North Carolina. As you move forward through the process, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. One strategy to help you stay on top of the process and all of the details involved is to maintain a journal.
However, what exactly should you be covering in a divorce journal or compiled file?
Frankly? Everything
It is in your benefit to keep a written record of most of the events and issues that arise in your divorce, such as:
- Messages or interactions with your ex-spouse, particularly if you face significant conflict
- Expenses and spending – both yours and your ex-spouse’s
- An inventory of your marital and separate property and its condition
- Photos of that property included in the inventory
- Your ex-spouse’s behavior
- How your children are faring, and how the divorce is affecting their behavior
- Even your own personal thoughts
In a past blog post, we suggested it might be helpful to keep a parenting journal. However, documentation can be a good idea at every step of your divorce, not just in your co-parenting journey.
Why record all of this information?
There are two reasons why it is a good idea to document the details of your divorce:
- In many cases, maintaining a journal can help you stay organized throughout the process of your divorce.
- Keeping a journal also provides you with a detailed record that you can use as evidence, should it be necessary.
For example, if you and your ex-spouse face significant disputes over property or you even suspect your ex-spouse of dissipating or destroying assets, your record can be a good starting point to prove your case. It is not only a method of organization, but an added level of protection.
Divorce is stressful enough as it is. Documenting this period of change and transition in your life can help you keep track of the events and keep your emotions in order.