6 Divorce Tips from a Female Divorce Attorney

by | Aug 10, 2021 | Divorce

The decision to get a divorce is never arrived at easily, and the process itself can be long, complicated, and emotionally draining. If you are considering a divorce, there are some things you can do now to help you get organized. Below you will find divorce tips from a female divorce attorney here at Whipple, Mercado & Associates that will help you cut through the stress and uncertainty and prepare financially, mentally, and emotionally for the road ahead. And if you are seeking a San Ramon divorce lawyer, you will find our contact information below. 

1) Get a Budget in Order

If you are going from two incomes down to one, it is important to list the bills you are now solely responsible for. Determine how you will make these payments and whether you need a second source of income or an alternate plan of action, such as downsizing. This will lessen the stress on you later if it comes as a sudden shock that you can no longer afford the lifestyle you were used to.

2) Decide if You Can Stay in Your Home

If you wish to stay in your home and do not want to move, verify whether you can live there on your own with only one income. Additionally, if your home is community property (purchased during marriage with community funds)  and you and your spouse are both on the mortgage, you will have to qualify to buy out your spouse’s interest in the home.  Finding out early on if you can qualify to refinance the mortgage to buy out his/her interest is an important first step in deciding whether it is realistic for you to be able to stay in the home.

3) Map Out a Parenting Plan

If you have children, it is important to determine how long and when each parent will see the child. Now that your child(ren) will have two homes, you will both need to establish a schedule for your child and determine how decisions for the child will be made, related to extracurricular activities, healthcare, education, and overall welfare.

4) Find Emotional Support

Family and friends are excellent sources for emotional support. But it is always a good idea to hire a professional counselor to speak to regularly while you go through this difficult process. You do not have to be alone in this big change in your life. Another option is finding a divorce support group or a meet-up group on social media that have meetings on a regular basis near you.

5) Take Care of Your Needs

Anyone who has been through the process can tell you divorce is a stressful time. It is important to remember to fulfill your basic needs and not add to the stress. Rest plenty, exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet. Ensure you are surrounding yourself with activities that boost your mood and not adding stressors to your load, such as negative people, reading bad news, or taking on too much at work. Now is the best time to put yourself first.

6) Hire a Professional Female Divorce Attorney

If you’re looking for a female divorce attorney, contact us at Whipple, Mercado & Associates. We’re here to give you the support you need through the divorce process. You can schedule a free consultation, or give us a call at (925) 344-5050.

Tammy J. Mercado

Tammy J. Mercado has a passion for helping her clients achieve their desired results. She listens and she personally and promptly responds to your texts, emails and phone calls. She offers real solutions to your legal matters. Tammy will carefully evaluate the legal issues in your case, provide you with sound advice and offer you the pros and cons of each possible scenario so you can meet your legal objectives. She encourages clients to participate in their own matters. Tammy believes that client participation is key to a positive result and to keeping attorney fees as low as possible. You can be sure that she will offer you straightforward, sound and honest advice in a professional manner, with integrity and excellence.

Before opening her own law practice, Tammy worked for many high-volume law firms. This gave her extensive, diversified experience in hundreds of complex family law cases as well as civil matters. She is admitted to practice law before all courts in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Tammy is also a member of the Rotary Club of Danville.

Tammy is a graduate of John F. Kennedy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix. Tammy is also a licensed real estate broker, which comes in handy for valuing property in family law cases as well as real estate matters in the civil arena.

During her off time, Tammy is an avid sailor who crews and races on various boats in the San Francisco Bay. Tammy approaches each case as she would any yacht race: by assessing the other’s strengths, weaknesses, experience, equipment, history and reputation. She is a member of the American Sailing Association, and she is a certified Coast Guard Auxiliary member.

HONORS AND AWARDS
Tammy was selected to receive the prestigious “Business Person of the Year” Award in 2017 for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy is currently serving as Danville Rotary President for 2017 through 2019.

Mary C. Whipple, CFLS

Mary C. Whipple opened her first law practice in the summer of 2008. She previously was an associate attorney at the Law Office of Cummins & Holmes, a full-service civil litigation law firm in San Ramon. The majority of her experience is in family law, which includes divorce, custody, support, prenuptial agreements and domestic-violence restraining orders. Certified by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, she is a specialist in the area of family law. Mary has also represented clients in a variety of non-family-law cases, including juvenile dependency, probate, breach of contract and employment disputes, to name a few.

Mary also previously worked as a contract attorney for O’Melveny & Meyers in San Francisco while simultaneously volunteering at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, representing defendants in unlawful detainer actions. The program acknowledged Mary with an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award in 2006 for her efforts in providing access to justice.

A seventh-generation Californian, Mary is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in criminology at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. She is a member of the State Bar of California, the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association.

In addition, Mary is active in her community as a member of the Ambassador’s Committee for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce; a volunteer at the Contra Costa County and Alameda County Superior Courts, where she assists self-represented litigants in completing their divorces; and a member of Divorce Angel, where she provides information regarding family law matters to members of the community. Since 2007 she has been a volunteer judge for Alameda and Contra Costa County’s Annual High School Moot Court Competition. She is also a member of the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club. She was awarded the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Person of the Year; and a graduate of the 2012 class of Leadership San Ramon Valley.

CERTIFIED LEGAL SPECIALTIES
Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization