Emotions often run high in a divorce. Many things can go wrong, and there's a lot at stake. Avoid these major divorce mistakes to safeguard your post-divorce future.
Working Without a Divorce Lawyer
It's tempting to try handling your divorce without help, especially if you're worried about money. However, this can lead to mistakes that you will pay for in multiple ways later.
If, for example, you realize you left a family heirloom out of your final divorce settlement, you'll have to go back and try to fix it, which can become expensive and complicated. Or, as you move through the process, you might discover that your spouse isn't as agreeable to settling things as you had thought. Now you're mired in court battles that you're struggling to handle, your costs are spiraling out of control and your divorce is dragging on for months.
When you work with a divorce lawyer, you'll benefit from their experience and legal knowledge. They will make sure all of the issues in your divorce are addressed, offer guidance, and help you avoid some critical yet common mistakes.
Fighting Over Meaningless Things
A divorce can feel like a battle. However, if you fight for things with no meaning to you just to get back at your spouse, you will end up paying for it. The longer your divorce takes, the more fees you will pay and the worse you will feel. Fight for things which are worth fighting for and don't use your divorce for revenge.
Constantly Using Social Media
It's tempting to blast your spouse on social media, but these posts can come back to haunt you. Don't make posts about the divorce online to vent. Your spouse's divorce lawyer can use them against you.
Even innocent posts could harm you if taken at face value. Your social media posts will be read by a judge who doesn't know you or the context behind the post. So, if your spouse is accusing you of drinking too much to be a fit parent, that joke photo of you holding a shot at a bar can hurt your position even if you rarely drink. Should your spouse accuse you of hiding assets, you shouldn't post that photo of your expensive vacation or splurge luxury purchase.
Divorcing on your own can lead to a whole new batch of problems. Work with a divorce lawyer to sidestep pitfalls and protect your future.