When divorce is on the horizon, you have no choice but to tackle the process head on. If you sit back and let the action come to you, it’s much easier to make a mistake and/or let your soon-to-be ex-spouse take control of the situation.
There are a variety of mistakes you must protect against during divorce, including but not limited to the following:
- Neglecting to prepare for property and debt division: A checklist is a must, as it provides a clear outline of your assets and debts, thus allowing you to protect what you’re entitled to. For example, you may find that you have individual assets that aren’t subject to divorce.
- Fighting for the family home: There’s nothing wrong with doing this, as long as you’re 100% sure it’s in your best interest. Don’t fight for a family home that you can’t afford to maintain on your own. Doing so will cause you more trouble down the road.
- Neglecting to learn more about child custody: Do you want to fight for physical custody of your children? Are you okay with visitation rights? Regardless of what you’re hoping to accomplish, you need to understand the finer details of child custody and how to protect your rights as a parent.
- Losing your cool: It’s easy to let your emotions get the best of you, especially if you’re going through a contentious divorce. However, when you keep your cool and think through every decision, you’ll be much happier with where things end up.
- Waiting to think about co-parenting: If you have children together who are under the age of 18, co-parenting will be a big part of your life moving forward. Thinking about this before divorce allows you to make the best decisions possible during and after divorce.
These are just a handful of the many mistakes that could cost you time and money during divorce. Not to mention the fact that the more mistakes you make, the more stress you’re placing on yourself.
If you’re staring down the divorce process, take the time necessary to formulate a plan that will help protect your legal rights.
