The first two weeks after you separate
The first two weeks set the tone for everything after. You don’t need to decide the big things yet. You need to keep the household steady and keep good records.
Most people call a lawyer a few days after one spouse moves out, or a few days before. Either way, the questions are the same. Here is what to do now, and what can wait.
Keep the kids’ week the same
Same school, same bedtime, same practices. If you and the other parent can agree on a temporary schedule, write it down in a text you both reply to. A judge later will care a great deal about what the children’s weeks looked like.
Don’t move money
- Keep paying the usual bills from the usual accounts
- Don’t empty a joint account or open new credit
- Download the last six months of statements for every account
- Write down what’s in the house that matters to you
Mind your phone
Assume every text and post will be read by a judge. Keep messages about the kids short and polite. Change passwords on accounts that are only yours.
What can wait
Who keeps the house, how retirement accounts are split and the long-term schedule can all wait for a first meeting. Decisions made in the first week are often the ones people regret.
Keep the week steady and the records clean. The rest can be decided with a clear head.