When going through the divorce process, it is easy for one to make mistakes, especially given the vast range of emotions people often experience at this time. However, even a seemingly small error can have a big impact on the outcome of your divorce settlement, which can potentially affect you for many years to come.
Some mistakes are more common than others, of course, so we compiled a list of the top 5 mistakes you should avoid during the divorce process:
- You badmouth your spouse in front of your children: Sure, you are probably very upset with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, but you need to refrain from speaking negatively about him or her whenever you are around your kids. Otherwise, you will make your kids feel guilty for spending time with their other parent and you might even poison them against him or her, which is also known as “parental alienation.” Engaging in this kind of damaging behavior might make a judge less inclined to grant you the custody agreement you are seeking. Remember, the court believes the involvement of both parents is in the best interests of the children, so a judge will not treat you favorably if it seems you are trying to interfere with the relationship your children have with their parent.
- You lied in court or hid marital assets: Lying in court will never do you any favors and it certainly will not endear a judge to you and your needs, so make sure you are always honest. If you are worried about being able to keep certain assets, speak to your attorneys about your concerns. Under no circumstances should you ever attempt to hide marital assets, however. It will get discovered and you will have to suffer some pretty stiff consequences for it.
- You did not hire legal representation: Many of us like trying to do things on our own, but divorce is something should never go on your list of do-it-yourself projects. Divorce attorneys spend years obtaining knowledge and experience to smoothly handle even the most complicated cases. You cannot hope to gain years’ worth of knowledge through doing a little research on Google. This is a mistake that will cost you more in the long run, so you might as well get it right the first time and hire an attorneys.
- You did not comply with the court’s orders: If you are unsure or confused about the terms of a court order, speak to your attorneys. If you simply do not agree with it, you must still comply with it and, in the meantime, you can pursue an appeal to see if you can have the order modified. The last thing you want is to be held in contempt for not obeying a court order.
- You let your emotions get the best of you: This is undoubtedly an emotional process, but you need to make sound decisions that are based on logic rather than emotions, so never make any impulsive decisions that are driven by emotion.
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At Empire Law, our skilled team of divorce attorneys is committed to helping clients smoothly navigate the divorce process.
Contact our law firm today at (347) 343-5467 to request a free case review with a member of our legal team.