Divorce can be painful and confusing, and with emotions running high, it is easy to slip up. While understandable, a misstep on your part could have big implications for the outcome of your divorce.
As you navigate this difficult process, here are five mistakes that you should avoid.
1. Misrepresenting your finances
When you and your spouse break up, you will need to divide the marital property. You may want to withhold items or funds that you believe are rightly yours. However, hiding assets or otherwise misrepresenting your financial circumstances could lead to legal repercussions.
2. Posting about your case on social media
You should assume that anything you post online could impact your divorce settlement. Refrain from venting about your spouse or sharing content that could depict you negatively. This is especially important to remember if you are negotiating the custody arrangement for your children.
3. Using joint accounts
Now that you and your spouse are separating, it is time to stop using joint financial accounts. You will want to begin securing your financial future without any complications from your former partner.
4. Forgetting to put your children first
Too often, parents allow their contentious divorce to impact their children. Badmouthing the other parent or using the children as leverage will only harm your relationship with your children.
5. Relying on second-hand advice
The circumstances of your marriage and divorce are unique, so you should be wary of taking advice from non-experts, even those who have been through a divorce themselves.
As you work through this challenging process, exercising extra caution and discretion could prevent you from making a mistake that you regret.