Coping with the end of your marriage can be a difficult time. It's wise when dealing with the legal questions to try to take a structured approach and aim to make it as painless and simple as possible. In order to accomplish that goal, keep these three tips in mind.

Don't Make Snap Decisions

In particular, be careful about vacating your house without good cause. Beyond the practical issue of having a place to stay, the court may take note that a spouse could afford to live elsewhere. Family household expenses factor into divorces, and it's best to not create the appearance that abandoning the house is easy.

Those in situations involving domestic violence should do whatever is necessary for self-preservation. If you do need to leave the house, though, document the reasons for doing so. Contact the police if violence is occurring in order to create a record that can be brought into court at a later time.

Hire a Lawyer

Even the most amicable breakup in history should be handled with the support of a divorce attorney. First, it's hard to be sure that you're getting all the details right on your own. And ending a marriage is littered with details about property, spousal and child support, custody, and even the settlement of debts. It's a lot to keep tabs on while filling out page after page of paperwork. When a marriage comes to a relatively friendly end, a lawyer who can handle that for a flat fee should be easy to find.

A second factor, though, is dealing with a less hospitable termination of your marriage. For those clients, the divorce attorney serves as a protective barrier. If an abusive former partner wants to try unloading on someone at the top of their voice, let them take their chances with a lawyer.

Focus on Life After the Divorce

One major mistake that complicates many divorces is getting focused on the past. If you don't need the old house, consider it a bargaining chip to trade for something you do need. The same goes for fighting over who gets to keep the dog or some piece of furniture. If it's not a treasured heirloom, be willing to bargain.

Your goal shouldn't be to mess up your ex. Instead, stay focused on building a foundation for your future. That means preserving financial stability without dragging the divorce process out any longer than necessary.