There are a few key things to keep in mind if you want to avoid making mistakes during your divorce. First, it’s important to be as honest as possible with your attorney about your assets and debts. Prepare yourself for a long process and avoid making any other major life decisions during the divorce. This includes buying a new house or car, quitting your job, or getting engaged. It’s always best to wait until the divorce is finalized before making any big changes, but if you must, speak to a family law lawyer in Tampa before moving forward.
What are three of the most common mistakes couples tend to make when divorcing?
1. Failing to Hire an Experienced Family Law Lawyer in Tampa
When you’re going through a divorce, it’s important to have someone on your side who knows the ins and outs of the process. A divorce attorney can help you navigate the legalities of your situation, protecting your interests and ensuring that the outcome is as fair as possible.
Here are some of the key benefits of hiring a divorce attorney:
- Expertise and knowledge of the law. A divorce attorney has extensive training in family law and will be up-to-date on any changes that could affect your case. This knowledge can be invaluable in protecting your rights and achieving a favorable outcome.
- Experience with the local court system. If your divorce is going to trial, your attorney will have familiarity with the judges and procedures of the court where your case will be heard. This can help ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
- Objectivity. It’s natural to feel emotional during a divorce, but an attorney can provide much-needed objectivity. This can be especially important when it comes to making decisions about child custody and property division.
2. Assuming You Can Reach a Fair Agreement on Your Own
If both parties are willing to negotiate and compromise, the chances of reaching an agreement outside of court are good. However, if there is a lot of animosity between the two parties, or if one party is unwilling to budge on certain issues, then the odds of avoiding litigation may be low.
Some of the key factors that will affect the likelihood of a couple reaching an agreement without going to court include:
- The level of communication and cooperation between the two parties: If the divorcing couple can communicate and cooperate, they are more likely to be able to reach an agreement on their own. However, if there is a lot of hostility between the two parties, or if one party is unwilling to budge on certain issues, then litigation may be necessary.
- The number of disputed issues: The more issues that the divorcing couple has to agree on, the harder it will be to reach an agreement without going to court. If there are only a few disputed issues, the chances of reaching an agreement are much higher.
- The complexity of the issues: Some divorce issues, such as child custody and property division, can be very complex. If the couple is dealing with complex issues, it may be more difficult to reach an agreement on their own.
3. Dragging Things Out Due to Hard Feelings
When a couple gets divorced, it’s often because they can’t see eye to eye on important issues. This can lead to a lot of tension and conflict, which can make the divorce process even more difficult.
One thing that can make a divorce even worse is if one spouse is determined to be spiteful. If someone is feeling vengeful or wants to “get back” at their ex, it can make an already difficult situation even more complicated.
There are a few different ways that someone might act out of spite during a divorce. For example, they might:
- Refuse to sign the divorce papers
- Try to drag out the process as long as possible
- Make false accusations against their ex
- Try to ruin their ex’s reputation
- Refuse to cooperate on parenting or financial issues
Spiteful behavior can make the divorce process more expensive, stressful, and time-consuming. It can also make it more difficult for the couple to move on from their relationship and create a healthy co-parenting relationship.
If you’re going through a divorce, it’s important to try to avoid acting out of spite. This can be difficult, especially if you’re feeling hurt or angry. But it’s important to remember that spiteful behavior will only make the situation worse.
If you’d like to avoid the most common mistakes couples make during a divorce or you need to speak to a family law lawyer in Tampa about ending your marriage, contact Geller Family Law at (813) 405-1509.
