For most people, the prospect of divorce presents a challenge in managing time. As the daily pace of life accelerates, the added burden of re-organizing a family can create major stress. While this observation is hardly a major newsflash, thoughtful and deliberate management of time can reduce the difficulty of this transaction.
In litigated disputes, an often underappreciated element of the case is the scheduling order. This is a court order that sets out the time line for the completion of certain tasks in advance of any court proceeding. It is created at the onset of the case and tells attorneys and parties what is expected. Noting specific deadlines on a personal or professional calendar will avoid error. Similarly, understanding the steps of the litigation process as noted in the scheduling order helps parties know what to do to prepare the materials before going to court.
In situations where no court action is pending, there is no formal scheduling order so managing time to deal with divorce planning may not be obvious. However, retrieving and organizing specific information related to a family’s assets and liabilities and income and expenses are basic to understanding how a case may resolve. To that end, dividing what may be a major project into small achievable steps may help with time management. Creating a clear record of monthly expenses by something as simple as maintaining an envelope with receipts of these expenses may also be useful. Consultation with an experienced attorney can also assist in preparing the appropriate information during the divorce process.