The divorce process is a complicated legal path that you have to take once you file. In addition to this, it will be a trying emotional time for you, and it will also be stressful. These are just natural effects of the process, and you shouldn’t feel like you’re alone during it. Having an attorney by your side to advocate for your interests and to advise you on how to proceed is critical.
At the same time, there are some very simple steps that you can take as a divorcing spouse to help your divorce and to protect yourself during the process.
The best piece of advice we can give is to remain calm during the divorce. Getting angry and upset with your spouse is only going to make future discussions more combative and difficult, and it does not foster good faith negotiations and meetings with him or her. By remaining calm, you will feel better and you will also be protecting yourself.
In addition, you should be honest about your assets. Lying about what you own, what your debts are, and what property is in your name will likely come back to haunt you during a divorce. If you have children, also be sure to take care of them and look out for their best interests.
So what should you avoid during a divorce? The easiest answer is “any big decisions.” Don’t move to a different state; don’t take a new job at a new company; don’t get married or start dating someone. All of these things could massively complicate your divorce.
Source: FindLaw, “The Divorce Process: Do’s and Don’ts,” Accessed Oct. 25, 2017
