Divorce is complicated. It’s emotional. There is a lot at stake. That creates tremendous pressure. Unfortunately, the stress and pressure of a situation like that can lead to mistakes that have an impact on the rest of your life.
Another issue is inexperience. If you’re getting divorced for the first time, you have no practice, no inside knowledge and no experience. As with anything, from driving a car to playing an instrument, that inexperience can lead to mistakes. The problem with that happening in a divorce case is that you could regret it later and find it difficult or impossible to rectify the situation.
Your best defense, then, is to know about common mistakes that other people make, and to plan in advance. Some examples of these mistakes include:
- Making mistakes when reporting assets. Clearly, reporting inaccurately on purpose is not allowed, but even innocent mistakes can prove problematic. To split assets up properly, everyone must know exactly what assets they control.
- Making decisions that put you first, rather than your children. Long-term, you always want to think about the impact that the divorce may have on the children. You should put them first.
- Making emotional choices, not rational ones. A common example is when two people spend thousands of dollars fighting over an inexpensive asset just because they don’t want the other person to have it.
- Never compromising on anything. Yes, you want to get your way and you know that you have rights. That’s fine, but it may be best to compromise on some things, and you have to remember that it is the rare case where both people get everything they want.
Don’t let a divorce mistake derail the process or ruin your life. Take the time to carefully think about every choice you make and exactly what it is going to mean for your future. It’s also important to work with experienced legal professionals who can help you avoid errors and who can guide you through the process.