Divorce, even when amicable, can be emotionally charged. This can cloud judgment and make it difficult to develop the marriage dissolution legal strategy that best positions you for success. But your future doesn’t have to fall victim to knee jerk reactions and decisions fueled by emotional turmoil. Instead, you take a step back, take a deep breath and view your divorce objectively and comprehensively. This will likely require time and thoughtfulness, as well as outside support, but it’s the only way to give yourself proper direction in your divorce proceedings.
That said, there are several mistakes that can be made along the way when seeking divorce. Any one of them can derail your future, leaving you without the financial resources and stability that you want and need. Therefore, before jumping into the marriage dissolution process, it’s imperative that you know what mistakes you should avoid.
Don’t make these mistakes when navigating your divorce
There are several errors that can be made during divorce, and they are of varying degrees of problematic. Here are some of the more severe mistakes that you’ll want to be cognizant of and that you’ll want to work to avoid:
- Having an incomplete picture of your martial finances: If you want to secure your fair share of the marital estate, then you need to have a realistic picture of what assets are in play in your divorce. If you don’t, then it’ll be all too easy for your spouse to keep asset away from you. So, be sure to carefully scrutinize bank statements and investment accounts, and be sure to inventory all items of personal property. Don’t forget to take debt into consideration, either, as these obligations will also have to be addressed during your divorce.
- Miscalculating your post-divorce expenses: Your financial circumstances are going to drastically change once your divorce is finalized. The best way to prepare yourself for that change is to create a post-divorce budget that captures the reality of your income and your debt obligations. If you don’t have this picture, then you can be left struggling to articulate what you need out of your divorce, and you might find yourself on hard times in the aftermath of your marriage dissolution.
- Fighting for assets that are beyond your financial means: There’s often sentimental value in certain marital assets, such as the family home, that drives people to fight for them in divorce. But keeping these larger assets can sometimes be a financial mistake given that they can be difficult to pay for and properly maintain. So, before digging your heels in to advocate for these assets, you need a clear understanding of what that’s going to do to your financial outlook.
- Failing to advocate for spousal support: If you’ve been married for a significant period of time and have made sacrifices to support your spouse or raise your children, then you might be entitled to spousal support. This can give you significant financial relief as you move into the next chapter of your life, but far too many people forego it because they don’t want to create tension with their spouse. Remember, you need to advocate for your future and what you need to live a successful life. So, don’t shy away from fighting for alimony if warranted to do so.
Develop a strong divorce legal strategy that protects your future
There’s a lot to take into account as you navigate the divorce process. Try not to get tangled up in the intricacies and lose focus of what’s needed to build a successful future. Instead, take the time needed to carefully develop your divorce legal strategy so that you can rest assured that you’ve done everything you can to secure the best outcome possible in your case.