Top Five Mistakes To Avoid During Divorce and How to Avoid Them

Top Five Mistakes to Avoid During Divorce and How to Avoid Them

Have you ever considered what mistakes people make during divorce? This post by a Gainesville, Florida divorce lawyer will go through the top five mistakes people make during their divorce or child custody proceeding. Luckily, these mistakes can be avoided with forethought and proper counsel.

Posting on Facebook

Hands down, this is the worst thing a party to a contested divorce or child custody case can do. Information that you post online to social media is available to the other party and can be used at trial for your divorce or custody case. Badmouthing your former spouse, posting pictures that show fancy vacations, etc. can come back to haunt you at trial. However, it can all be avoided simply by not posting on social media during divorce. Period!

Not being properly advised or unprepared

Not being properly advised or unprepared at crucial steps during your divorce can be disastrous. First off, many people decide that don’t need a lawyer for their case. Unfortunately, there are many issues that non-attorneys never consider because they don’t understand the process. For example, a misunderstanding of marital vs. non-martial assets could result in one spouse losing thousands upon thousands of dollars. It is simply paramount for divorce or child custody litigants to be advised and prepared for their case at all times.

Inappropriate courtroom demeanor

Imagine this scenario: The facts are on your side, the law is on your side, and you’ve hired a competent, compassionate lawyer for your divorce. You’re good to go, right? Wrong. The Judge in your case is going to be watching you – your tone of voice, your facial expressions, your body language, to name a few. This will influence the Judge for better or worse. Depending on how long your trial takes, the judge is going to have between four and 16 hours to observe you. It is important the judge come away with a positive impression of you. Making gasps, silly faces, or acting unprofessional will do nothing but hurt your case. Prepare with your attorney beforehand some strategies to help you keep your cool during tense and emotional moments.

Dissipating Assets

This mistake falls somewhat into the category of being unprepared or ill advised. Like I’ve talked about previously, it’s not always clear what is and is not a marital asset. A marital asset is subject to equitable distribution. If you dissipate that asset (use it for own good), then you will be on the hook for your spouse’s half. This could mean you could potentially be paying your spouse thousands of dollars depending on how much was dissipated.

These are the five biggest mistakes I’ve encountered litigants make during their divorce process. With this advice and a competent attorney on your side, these mistakes can all be avoided. Of course, please consult with a competent divorce attorney in Gainesville, Florida about your case.