It is not a “race to the courthouse” in most circumstances.  From a practical standpoint, even before filing, consider gather all documents that you may need during the divorce before the proceedings even begin. These include financial statements, insurance policies, wills, trusts, real estate and business records, and other vital documents that will help to determine how assets are divided during the divorce. Having time to secure possession these documents is especially important as it can be rather difficult to get your hands on these documents if your partner is controlling or secretive when it comes to your marriage’s finances. You may set aside funds that will allow you to pay for your divorce attorney and accompanying the legal team. Gathering information and/or filing without telling your partner may make it harder for an unscrupulous partner to hide assets or debts that they may want to keep from coming to light during the divorce proceedings. If you file for divorce first, you may be able to choose where the divorce proceedings take place. For example, if you and your former partner are separated and live-in different states or counties you will be able to file in a jurisdiction that will be more likely to support your claim.