Divorce is never easy, but you can make it harder on yourself by committing preventable mistakes. If you are going through a divorce or see one on the horizon some of the most important not-to-do’s include:
- Getting careless on social media: A lot of people regret posting things on social media when those posts later come up in divorce court. Anything from an account of a party to a picture of a new purchase can come back to haunt you. A good rule of thumb: When in doubt, don’t post.
- Fighting over “pots and pans”: When emotions run hot, it can be tempting to play hardball in divorce court just to spite your soon-to-be ex. Fighting over insignificant items, however, is a mistake that will only end up costing you time, money and emotional well-being. Think about what is truly important to you and fight for that.
- Saying negative things about your spouse in front of your children: Child custody disputes are perhaps the most difficult and emotionally challenging aspects of divorce. Parents must be careful, however, about the things they say about the child’s other parent while in the presence of the child. Child custody arrangements work best when parents can cooperate. If you can keep things amicable, it will be in your childrens’ best interests.
- Having unrealistic expectations: Some things in divorce will go your way while others likely will not. If you come into divorce with inflated expectations you will only be disappointed when reality falls short. Don’t rely on word-of-mouth or internet chatroom advice to gauge how you will fare in divorce. Discuss your prospects with an experienced family law attorney who knows how the law applies in your unique circumstances.
What to do?
We talked about a few things you should not do. One of the most important things you should do is consult with a knowledgeable divorce attorney. Your lawyer is a trusted ally who can help you make the right decisions going forward.