Moving takes patience and planning, and that’s especially true when you’re going through a divorce. It’s important to take care of yourself during your move, as you’ll need to be at your best to get everything done. From shopping for movers to taking care of the utilities, there are specific steps you need to take when moving, although the divorce will add a few more to-do items. Here are seven tips for moving when going through a divorce that will ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Can I Get Qualify for a Mortgage for My New Home?
If your name is on the mortgage loan for your existing home and it’s not being sold right away, then getting a mortgage for a new home could be tricky. It will all depend on the payment history and equity you have in your current home as well as your debt-to-income ratio, so you should consult with an accountant, lender or financial adviser for an answer to the question. If you are selling the existing marital home, then your ability to get a mortgage will depend on your income, debt load and credit score. Remember that when you bought your existing home, you probably used the income for the both of you to quality, so don’t be surprised if you’re approved for a much smaller loan this time around.
2. Should I Move While My Spouse Is In the House?
You’ve probably already given thought to your children’s school schedules, your work schedule and all of the other timing issues that will coincide with your move, but it helps to add your soon-to-be ex-spouse to the calendar. Even if there is no angst between the two of you, the other’s presence while you’re packing and getting ready to leave can cause emotional upheaval. If both of you are moving out of the home, it can also cause logistical problems. Work things out with your spouse ahead of time so that you both have the private time you need to pack up and move things out.
3. What Kind of Moving Company Do I Need?
Until the divorce is finalized, your financial situation may be uncertain. Get the most value for your dollar by shopping around for movers. The type of company you choose will depend on the volume of goods you’re moving and whether you need anything put into storage until your new home is ready. For simple local or long-distance moves, then a traditional moving company is fine. If you need your things stored for a while or you need to keep the costs to a minimum, you might want to choose a company that uses pods or relocation cubes. Storage fees are generally minimal, and you won’t feel obligated to pay tips for moving men. Schedule the moving company at least eight weeks ahead of your move.
4. How Do We Divide Everything In the House?
You may think that a division of the household goods is a fairly simple process, but your spouse may not see it that way. Instead of winding up in a last-minute battle or losing possession of something cherished, hash everything out beforehand between the two of you. Create an inventory of everything in the house and on the property that’s to be moved. Assign the items you plan to keep to yourself and the rest to your spouse. Set up a meeting between the two of you, and possibly your lawyers, and work on the list until everyone is satisfied.
5. What If the Utilities Are In My Name?
Create a list of all of the utilities connected with the house, including the water, electric, oil or gas, cable and Internet, and then check off the ones that are in your name and which ones you will need at your new home. For the ones in your name, mark the calendar for two weeks prior to the move to notify the utility company that the services will need to be shut off on a certain date, and give your spouse the dates as well if he is staying in the home. Call the utilities you have never had an account with well ahead of your move. You may be required to come up with hefty deposits for new service, and that’s something you don’t want to find out at the last minute.
6. What Do I Do When It’s Too Much to Handle?
Now is not the time to be a hero. Call you family and friends and ask for help. That can be as simple as transporting a few boxes to your new home or sweeping the floors in your old house, although you should also feel free to ask for help with the pets or babysitting when it’s needed. Moves like the one you’re about to take used to have two of you at the helm guiding the ship, so you should welcome all helpers with open arms to make your actual move one less thing you have to stress over.
7. What About All of the Legal Issues?
One of the best tips for moving during a divorce is to keep all court dates, custodial agreements and visitation schedules top of mind. Until your divorce becomes final, you may have certain geographical restrictions when it comes to the children. Even if you go outside of the boundary unintentionally or you inadvertently miss a stipulated visitation date, it can hurt your court case in the long run. Before you schedule your closing on the new house, call your divorce attorney to make sure there’s no conflict.
Moving to a new home while going through a divorce doesn’t need to be stressful. Take the time to plan ahead and follow these simple tips for moving to keep things moving along smoothly.
2 Point Highlight
Moving to a new home while going through a divorce doesn’t need to be stressful if you take the time to plan ahead and stay organized.
It’s important to take care of yourself during your move, as you’ll need to be at your best to get everything done.
