No one walks down the aisle expecting their marriage to end in a messy divorce. Unfortunately, divorce is a part of life for close to 50% of married people. The good news is that divorce does not have to be unnecessarily messy or hurtful. By avoiding common pitfalls you can set yourself up for as amicable and smooth a divorce as possible.
Don’t Lie About Your Income
Whether you are lying about your income verbally, fudging forms or taking steps to hide assets, chances are you are going to get caught. Divorce lawyers often work with forensic accountants to uncover hidden assets and shine a spotlight on financial trickery. Not to mention lying about your income in a divorce can potentially lead to criminal charges.
Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself
Whether the divorce was your idea, mutual, or you were blindsided, divorce is hard. It is okay to cut yourself some slack and acknowledge the emotional and mental difficulty of divorce.
Don’t Forget Who Your Spouse Is
You know your soon-to-be ex as well as anyone. If they are the type to use your friends or family against you in an effort to rile you up and gain advantage, don’t let them get away with it. Avoid fighting with your ex and avoid posting anything on social media that can be used against you. We know it’s hard, but if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
Don’t Let the Process Drag Out
The sooner your divorce is finalized, the sooner you can move on with the rest of your life. If a settlement is at all possible, it is typically the least financially and emotionally costly option.
Don’t Be Your Own Attorney
You are likely not a family law attorney, so you don’t know what you don’t know. Even if you were a family law attorney, it would not be advisable for you to act as your own attorney because you are too close to the legal issues at hand. An experienced divorce attorney can provide you with outside perspective and ensure you are making decisions for the right reasons during your divorce.