If you are a stay-at-home mother who is looking to get divorced, you need to make sure that you gather up the right evidence and take the right steps as you proceed through your divorce. If you depended upon your spouse for income, you are in a vulnerable position and need to make sure that you make smart decisions.

1. Gather Together Financial Documents

The first thing that you need to do is gather up your financial documents. This is a smart step to take before you let your spouse know that you want to file for divorce. You are going to want to make copies of W2s and tax returns, going back as far as you can. See if you can get copies of your spouse's recent paystubs. You are also going to want to get copies of bank statements, investment accounts, and retirement accounts. Additionally, you need to collect insurance policies and bank statement.

Basically, you want to get copies of any paper that you have that details your expenses, income, and investments. Try to get copies and a paper trail going back as far as you possibly can. For things such as investments and retirement, try to get proof that those items were contributed to within the bounds of your marriage.

If your spouse holds the financial strings in your relationship, it is vitally important that you understand your financial situation as a family before you start divorce proceedings. This will ensure that you are working from the right information and will make it harder for your spouse to hide income and assets from you.

2. Save Up Your Money

Next, you are going to need to save up your money. Getting a divorce, even when both parties agree, is not cheap. If you know that your spouse is going to fight your divorce proceedings, it can get even more expensive.

You are going to want to make sure that you can pay for the divorce. That may mean saving up money when you can or taking on a small side hustle so that you can save money for your divorce. You should also take steps to make sure that your credit score is in order so that you can apply for a loan or a credit card and use that funding source to pay for your divorce.

Keep in mind that depending upon the balance of earning power in your marriage, your spouse may be required by the courts to pay your legal fees. For more information, contact a company like The Law Firm of David Benning Smith.