Divorcing in 2016? Get your affairs in order first

Marketwatch reports:

If you’re planning to get divorced in 2016, start thinking about your exit strategy now.

Divorce filings surge in January as people decide to start their New Year with a clean slate, experts say. “We are at least 25% busier in January and, sometimes, twice as busy,” says Randy Kessler, an Atlanta-based lawyer who wrote the book, “Divorce: Protect Yourself, Your Kids, and Your Future.” “January is always the biggest month for new divorce filings. A lot of people who are unhappily married get through the holidays and say, ‘You know what? I’m going to start the year fresh.’ The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers says divorce filings in January are usually one-third higher.

Don’t file divorce papers without first researching the financial and legal implications. Seek out three professionals, Kessler says: A psychologist to help you make sure that you are making a clear-headed choice, a certified financial planner to outline the financial implications, and a divorce lawyer who can prepare you for all that is to come. “So many people file for divorce based on emotion,” he says. “By the time you figure out what it looks like financially, you may think twice about doing it.” And to ensure confidentiality, employ professionals that have no relationship or connection with your family already.

The divorce season is here.