• Collect your last years tax returns, insurance policies, benefit programs, last three months of bank statements, salary information and investment accounts.
• You should immediately open a bank account in only your name at a bank where your spouse does not do business.
• If you receive an inheritance, do not place it into a joint account or joint ownership with your spouse.

If you receive any gift, keep documents that show the gift was given to you personally and not to you and your spouse jointly.

Make sure all of your important documents are in a safe and secure place.

Do not sign any new contracts, loans, mortgages, deeds or other documents without consulting a lawyer.

Avoid saying anything negative about your spouse, especially if you have children.

Attempt to keep the lines of communication open with your spouse. Open lines of communication allow negotiating a divorce settlement with your spouse without going to court, allow you the opportunity to make decision about your life that affect your future and can ultimately save you money.

Finally, avoid making any drastic or life-changing decisions until you are thinking clearly about your situation. The State of Florida will not grant you a divorce unless your marriage is irretrievably broken. If you can fix your marriage, make the attempt because you can save yourself a lot of time, anguish and money.