Common Mistakes That Can Occur During the Divorce Process

Mistakes That Are Commonly Made During a Divorce

If a divorce is contested or the particulars take a long time to finalize, the process can be a lengthy one; during this stressful time, a large number of mistakes can be made by either spouse. Each year, approximately 800,000 divorces occur across this country. While some of these divorces are finalized without issue, others go through turbulent events that are oftentimes caused by simple mistakes that could have been easily avoided.

Not Focusing on the Details of the Divorce

Many spouses who are going through a divorce try to disengage from the process as much as possible, which can create numerous problems. Any negotiations between the two spouses or arguments brought into court will need to be supported by myriad facts and documents from the marriage. Solely because he or she wants to get through the divorce quickly and without any additional distractions, there are times when a spouse may sign a divorce settlement without reading all the details. Of course, this is unwise. The agreement just signed might not be as it was described, and it may not be fair or equitable. Regardless of how anxious or weary you become, remember that focusing on the specifics is important.

This can also be an issue after the divorce has been finalized and child support payments are being made. If the right details about child care expenses aren’t recorded, the payments may end up being lower than they ought to be.

Making a Settlement That Doesn’t Take Future Events Into Account

When they are obtaining a divorce, many individuals focus on making a settlement agreement with their spouse that only takes the status quo into account, which means that the equitable split is made based solely on the current valuation of the marital assets. However, all sorts of future events could alter a person’s ability to live as she or he did before the occurrence. Some of the unfortunate possibilities that could take place following a divorce include:

• A physical disability
  
• A loss of a long-term job
  
• A substantial depreciation of assets
  
• Significant health problems in a child
  

Here’s an example. Suppose a perfectly reasonable agreement was made for paying future college expenses for a child, and it was based on a 50/50 split between the spouses. However, one spouse later loses his or her job and is only able to find work that provides a much lower salary. In this altered scenario, the original agreement may no longer be fair. A divorce lawyer can help design a settlement agreement with future contingencies in mind.

Progressing Through the Divorce Too Quickly

It’s common for spouses who are seeking a divorce to attempt to get through the proceedings as fast as possible. However, trying to rush this process can cause costly errors that lead to serious issues later on. When attempting to get through a divorce without unnecessary hurdles or roadblocks, various sound strategies can expedite the process. These solutions include arriving at a complete settlement agreement with the help of a mediator or an attorney and creating a parenting plan before going to court.

How Our Attorneys Can Help You During Your Divorce

The divorce process can be a difficult one to navigate without an attorney by your side. At Joanne Kleiner & Associates, a divorce lawyer can assist you by taking care of every detail of the proceeding from the initial filing to arguing your case in court if necessary. If you’re trying to come to an agreement with your spouse about how property is divided or what the parenting responsibilities should be, we can help you with these decisions. This should relieve you of some of the stress that invariably occurs during a divorce. If you find that you are having difficulties understanding what the divorce process entails, call our office in Jenkintown today at (215) 886-1266 to obtain the assistance you require.