Especially if you’re in the midst of a divorce, moving out is not always something you should do right away. However, if you are at wits end and you’re ready to get out, here are some tips to get you into a new home.
Talk to your lawyer before you start packing
As eager as you may be to move out, don’t leave just yet. There may be issues you’re not considering. Have you and your spouse agreed to which property you’ll be splitting? Do you know where you’re moving to? Will you have access to the house once you leave in case you need to move out more items?
All of these things need to be discussed with an attorney before you leave. If you’re going through a divorce and you move out before you’ve made a plan for all of your items in the house, you may not be able to get access to them anytime soon.
Moving out during your divorce
This article is intended for helping make the moving process easier for those who have already found a place to live. You can read about finding housing in Raleigh while waiting for your divorce to go through here.
Once the decision to move is made it’s time to find a mover. Finding a mover in Raleigh can be especially challenging, given the limited amount of moving companies for the number of residents.
Our clients have tried most of the movers in Raleigh and the surrounding area. We’ve compiled a list of some of the movers we’ve heard good things about.
Moving yourself
Some folks in Raleigh prefer to move themselves. That’s a dramatically less expensive option, and especially when waiting on money from your divorce settlement or on temporary spousal support, saving on movers can go a long way. If that’s your plan then U-Haul is very likely your best option. You can rent a truck at your convenience for multiple hours and only pay one flat fee to rent the truck. After that, you only pay for the additional mileage you use on driving. You can reserve it anywhere from 4 to 10 hours without paying anything extra. You can reach the local Raleigh offices at 919-821-1450.
Hiring movers
If moving yourself isn’t something you’re interested in doing, then it’s time to look at movers in the area.
Our clients have given us recommendations about Two Men & a Truck, Unity Moving and 1stClassMove in Raleigh. In fact, we’ve even used Two Men & a Truck when we’ve moved offices in the past with great success (we swear this article isn’t sponsored). Please note that we can’t give personal endorsements for most of these other brands. We’ve only heard about them from our former clients.
Best practices for moving during divorce
There is still work to be done even if you have hired movers. Make sure to talk with your spouse about what you are taking. You don’t want to leave them surprised afterwards, even if something is your own personal property. The divorce process will go much smoother and may even ease negotiations later if you are upfront from the start.
Furthermore, make sure to discuss big items like furniture, televisions, kitchen appliances and anything else that you often share with each other. Though this process can sometimes be easier for the spouse staying in the marital home, it’s important for spouses to be fair with each other when initially dividing property. You will be able to nail down and split items fairly later. Right now, you just want to get out with the essentials without intentionally trying to harm your spouse’s well being.
Finally, when children are involved, it’s essential to make sure both your new place and the home they’ve grown up in both provide them with safety, security, and comfort. Always remember that there are more important things than material goods.
