A divorce can fundamentally alter the lives of both spouses in several unexpected ways. A good example of this might be spouses who are not native residents of Florida and decide to return to their home states after their divorces. This can be especially problematic if those couples also share children together. Another example of how a divorce can affect you in strange ways is not having a full understanding of your marital wealth. A spouse that is purposely concealing assets from you can prevent you from getting an equitable distribution of the marital estate. Having an attorney that knows what to look for might have lasting benefits with regards to child support and alimony.
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes that divorcing spouses make is when choosing their attorney. It’s easy to understand why you might want to retain a super aggressive divorce attorney that will make life miserable for your soon-to-be ex. However, it’s important for you to know that calm, methodical negotiation with your spouse regarding child custody and child support issues can sometimes be less costly over the long haul while also benefiting both parties.
Another common mistake is believing that every lawyer is equally capable in all fields of legal practice. This is rarely true, and you may even learn to regret retaining a friend of the family or someone who doesn’t normally handle divorces. An attorney who represents clients primarily in family law cases is generally more experienced with the intricacies of Florida’s often complex divorce procedures.
Finally, another common mistake people make is airing out their disagreements with their spouse via social media. This is perhaps one of the better reasons for retaining a divorce attorney. By using your attorney as a go-between with your spouse, you can voice your disagreements while also insulating yourself from potentially embarrassing situations in the courtroom. Your attorney can forcefully advocate your position without imperiling your shot at a favorable child custody or spousal support decision.
Source: Huffington Post, “10 Legal Mistakes People Make During Divorce (And How Not To Make Them!),” Karen Covy, DivorcedMoms.com, July 20, 2015