What steps should I take before I consider getting a divorce?

Contact an attorney.. The longer you remain separated the more likely you will not have any claim on his property in a divorce.

You need to get responsible about this. You won't get the necessary information off the internet. You need to hire an attorney and deal with the many facets of your divorce.

Consult with an attorney to discuss all issues involved in a divorce and any steps needed to protect your interests. This consultation should address all concerns and questions and then you can decide how best to proceed.

First things first: Retain an experienced family law attorney. Such a person can prevent lots of pitfalls ad the expense is nearly always worth it. As to preliminary steps: do your best to get the most recent information on all the property which either or both of you own: the address and legal description of real estate, and the appraised or assessed value. The same goes for all bank and investment accounts, and retirement funds. If you have joint accounts, you might consider setting up a separate account in your own name and taking no more than one-half of the money in the joint account(s). Make copies of all these documents, and all your and his income tax returns for the past five years or so. If he accepts cash for any work he does, see if you can locate any records he keeps. Beyond that, consult with your lawyer.