It’s never easy when two people who have been together for long periods decide to part ways. As a Palm Beach County family law attorney, we understand how painful it can be.
On average, there is a zero to a six-month waiting period after the divorce papers are filed and served to the other spouse for the divorce to become final. The more the two of you can agree on the paperwork, the faster the divorce process is. Unfortunately, because agreement can be difficult at this time, it’s often better to find a divorce lawyer that can help mitigate any issues.
During this process, there are four things you want to avoid during a divorce.
Hiding Assets
The court asks you to disclose all income currently in your possession or under your control. Some assets people don’t consider are bank accounts held in a child’s name (but are usually also in the parent’s name), expensive artwork, and family jewelry. Avoid lying on these documents as the other party can examine these assets.
Bad-Mouthing the Other Spouse
If you have children, it’s important not to bad-mouth your spouse in front of your kids. This can give the court an unfavorable opinion of you when child time sharing and child support are both being considered. While tensions may be high between you and your former partner, it’s in your best interest to keep any negative talk quiet. This also goes for bad-mouthing your spouse on social media.
Keeping the Children From Your Spouse
Once child time sharing has been determined, it’s legally necessary to follow the court order. Children have a right to be with both parents as your child custody order mandates. You’re required to share your child with the other parent during the agreed-upon times until any paperwork has been updated.
Making Negotiating Difficult
It’s okay not to be 100% certain how you want to divide your assets during the divorce. However, both parties need to be flexible during negotiations to help make the process go as smoothly as possible. If one party is seen to be purposely frustrating the negotiating experience, this can make the divorce process go on for longer than necessary.
Making these mistakes during a divorce can drag out the process unnecessarily, costing everyone time, money, and emotional anguish. It’s a good idea to find a divorce lawyer you can count on to make the process as easy as possible. To learn more about how the right divorce lawyer can help you, contact the Affordable Divorce Center today.