One of the best steps you can take to protect yourself from future problems with your divorce is to contact a divorce attorney as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many people only make that crucial call after the end of their marriage, now that they are trying to untangle themselves from badly executed divorces with unnecessary but burdensome complications. This leads to a great deal of preventable anguish. Keep reading to learn the basics of what you should do and what mistakes you should avoid while seeking divorce so that you can protect yourself. But remember, your best step is to reach out to a Union County divorce attorney.
To-Dos During a Divorce: Your Emotions and Your Children
Divorce is an incredibly taxing time for anyone, particularly because you are indeed best served by putting aside that mental and emotional stress whenever you attend a legal proceeding. Letting your emotions get the better of you during a divorce can lead to myriad problems: outbursts in front of the judge or unneeded stubbornness while you negotiate with your ex, for instance.
At the same time, it can also happen that you are staying in control of your emotions, but your ex is throwing verbal jab after verbal jab at you. The judge will take note of your ex’s misbehavior, and it may even benefit you in discussions of topics like child custody, proving their your ex may not be suited to be the primary caregiver. However, if you find yourself reacting emotionally to their provocations, that can also negatively affect your case and arguments.
This is another reason why starting divorce proceedings with an experienced attorney is such a boon. A divorce lawyer will likely have experienced any number of tense situations between former spouses. They are therefore well-versed in keeping the atmosphere calm and professional.
Keep in mind that having an emotional outburst during divorce negotiations may also harm your relationship with your child. Children are also making a big life adjustment when their parents get divorced. Depending on how custody negotiations play out, it’s very common for children to have two homes after divorce. They might even have to change schools. That’s a lot for a child to process, so negotiating calmly with your ex while settling on topics like visitation, child custody, and child support is key to making sure things are as peaceful as possible for your child.
Mistakes to Avoid During a Divorce: Taking Family’s Advice and Rushing
Family and friends are likely worried for you and want to help in any way they can. Unfortunately, they might also give you less than helpful advice. Divorce law is complicated, ever-changing, and dependent on the highly individualized specificities of a case. Of course, appreciate your family’s moral support, but seek advice only from your lawyer.
As complicated as divorces can be, it’s important to be flexible with how long the process takes. No one wants a prolonged and agonizing negotiation filled with arguments, but rushing your divorce can leave important topics insufficiently considered. Even putting aside questions of child custody, other topics such as division of assets can be thorny, especially if your ex is trying to hide assets. Taking your time to discuss things carefully with your ex and with your lawyer will serve you well.
If you have any further questions about the mistakes to avoid in a divorce, or what you can do to improve your odds of achieving a favorable outcome, contact our firm today.
