Setting Goals for your Family Law or Divorce Case

You never thought you’d end up in a divorce or family law case.  You don’t know how it happened that you are at this point in your life.  Or maybe you do know what happened, how and when everything happened that created the story that led you to where you are today.

It is easy to not set goals or make a plan.  But, just because it is easy now, doesn’t mean it is going to make your situation any easier.

Set short term and long term goals and make a plan for your divorce, child support modification, enforcement or whatever family law issue you have.

Here are my thoughts about how to get started from some of the questions I ask clients:

• Picture your life one year from now.  Do you have a case ongoing right now that you want finished?  If so, that is a long term goal.  How do you want to describe your issue in a year?  How you answer that question, could also be a long term goal. Do you need a lawyer now?  Do you need advice from a lawyer now?  If the answer is yes to either of those questions, that is a short term goal.

• If you have a case that is ongoing, how do you want that to finish?

• Then take some time to think about and perhaps write down your short term and long term goals and your plan.

• Don’t stress about making the perfect goals and your plan.  Things change.  Your plan will change too.  But your plan will help you when the stress is high and you have to make a decision.

• Tell your lawyer your divorce and family law goals.  This will help your lawyer know where you want to be and how you want the attorney to help you get there.

Jill O’Connell