Mistakes to Avoid When Getting a Divorce

Mistakes to Avoid When Getting a Divorce

Making the decision to get a divorce is never easy. In most cases, the reasons that led to the decision are emotionally charged. Due to this, it is easy to give in to those emotions and base decisions on them that could ultimately hurt a person’s divorce case in the end. Below are the most common mistakes made during divorce, and how you can avoid them.

Oversharing on Social Media

Divorce is sometimes compared to a roller coaster, and the reasons for this are understandable. Even when divorce brings some sense of relief to a person, it is still an extremely difficult process. You may feel as though social media brings the support you need during this time, but oversharing on social media can hurt your case, even if your posts do not seem at first to have anything to do with your divorce.

For example, Sue and John are getting a divorce and Sue is pursuing alimony from John, who argues that he cannot afford to pay it. John though goes onto social media and shares pictures of his new sports car or photos from his recent trip to the tropics. A mutual friend may tell Sue about this, who then tells her lawyer, and ends up securing a more favorable settlement due to John’s social media posting.

Try to refrain from posting anything too personal on social media when going through a divorce and ideally, avoid posting altogether.

Not Gathering the Right Paperwork

As soon as you know you and your spouse are headed for divorce, it is time to start collecting paperwork. Divorce is not only an emotional process, it is also a legal one that involves an extensive amount of paperwork. The appropriate documents to collect before your divorce include:

• Documents pertaining to your banking, retirement, investment, and other financial accounts,
• Documents pertaining to debt, such as auto loans, a mortgage, and credit card statements,
• Payments made on vehicles, a home, and other significant assets, and
• Receipts outlining any improvements made to a home

These documents are not only necessary for your divorce, but also for your future tax and retirement planning, as well.

Leaving Both Names on Credit Accounts After Divorce

It is not uncommon for one spouse to willingly assume responsibility for a debt during divorce, rather than splitting it with their spouse. If your spouse does this, it is essential that you remove your name from the joint debt. If you do not, you may still be liable for the debt regardless of what your divorce settlement says. Creditors are not bound by your divorce settlement and so, you must actually remove your name from the account to avoid problems with the creditor in the future.

Believing You Do Not Need a Michigan Family Lawyer

Many people think they can go through the divorce process while representing themselves. This is usually a mistake. During your divorce, a Clinton Township family lawyer will always ensure your best interests are protected and that you secure the fair settlement you deserve. If you are about to get a divorce, our knowledgeable attorneys at Iafrate & Salassa want to help with your case. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.