The last thing you want to happen when you get into a marriage is divorce. However, there are times when it's in the best interest of everyone involved, including your kids, to break things off and file for divorce. Divorce proceedings can be overwhelming, but knowing what to expect and consulting a family lawyer can help you navigate the process. Here's what you need to know.

1. Don't Expect to Win

Most divorcing couples go through the divorce process trying to beat their partner in the court proceedings. The truth is there's rarely a winner in divorce. It typically involves various issues like the division of property, child support, and child custody.

Divorcing partners rarely get everything they want. For instance, one spouse could be granted primary physical custody of the kids but get considerably less spousal support than requested; trying to "win" is pointless because it's virtually impossible to distinguish between the "winner" and the "loser.

"Instead, consider the consequences of a full-fledged legal dispute before choosing that route. A family lawyer can help you with this. Along with the tens of thousands of dollars, you'll spend, your kids may end up being the collateral damage of your heated divorce battle. After the dust settles, you won't even remember who ''won.'

2. Don't Believe Everything People Tell You

Your divorced friends or acquaintances will likely try to offer advice about how your divorce should go. Unfortunately, what they tell you isn't necessarily going to be true. Every divorce is unique.

Although your friends might think what transpired in their divorce is typical, don't base your decisions on what they went through. Instead, trust the counsel you receive from your lawyer, financial consultants, and mental health specialists. They have experience with cases such as yours.

3. You May Need to Involve Other Professionals

Most divorce cases involve the distribution of assets such as retirement funds, stocks/bonds, and real estate, but the issue of custody and visitation is also common. These processes often involve hiring other professionals. For example, if you need to have a financial asset valued, such as a piece of real estate or business, hiring a real estate appraiser forensic accountant may be necessary. You may also need to consult a financial advisor or certified public accountant because there are likely some tax implications you must be aware of before distributing certain assets. Hiring a custody expert or mediator can be helpful if you're finding it hard to agree on custody and parenting time.

4. Have Reasonable Expectations

Divorcing partners often set goals that are illogical or illegal. Consult your family lawyer to understand how the law affects your situation to help you set a logical expectation about the outcome. For example, while you may want the process to progress quickly, even uncontested divorces took an average of eight months, according to Forbes.

Going through a divorce is never easy, but knowing what to expect can help. Give us a call today to book a consultation with our family lawyer.