What You Shouldn’t Do During the Divorce Process
It’s normal for emotions to run high in a divorce. This is especially true if you and your soon-to-be-ex have to divide parenting time. Complications in the divorce process are normal, especially if the two of you disagree. However, even the simplest decisions in a divorce can quickly become overwhelming if the wrong decisions are made. If you’re going through a divorce, it’s important to know what you shouldn’t do – and how an experienced divorce lawyer can help make this process easier.
So what shouldn’t you do during the divorce process? Here are a few tips:
Don’t Hide Any of Your Assets
During a divorce, it can be very tempting to hide some of your assets so that you don’t have to share them with your spouse, especially if there was cheating involved. However, doing this can majorly backfire on you. If you did hide assets, it will likely be discovered during the discovery process. This is when information is gathered about each spouse, including their financial information. If you claim to not have certain assets that you’re trying to hide during the deposition, you may be facing criminal penalties for lying under oath, in addition to monetary fines.
In Texas, under Chapter 7 of the Texas Family Code, this act is known as “fraud on the community.” The court may award a monetary judgment in favor of the wronged spouse. So, in other words, if you try to hide your assets to keep them from your spouse, you may end up having to give all of the assets to them anyway.
Don’t Vent on Social Media
Do you know the saying that half of what you see on social media is true? Well, this also applies to divorce. We live in an age where digitally venting about our lives is normal. However, it can have severe consequences for you and your divorce. It’s important to remember that everything you post online – whether it be a status update or photograph – tells a story that can easily be misconstrued by others. Since emotions tend to run high during a divorce, your ex may try to use an innocent photo of you drinking at a party as a reason that you shouldn’t be allowed to have custody.
While this is just an example, it shows how easy it could be for someone to create a perception about you, and vice versa. You should stay off social media during your divorce proceedings. However, if you can’t stay away, avoid sharing any details about your personal life. Do not say anything about your current legal proceedings.
Stop Putting Money into Your Shared Accounts
If you both share a joint account, it’s time to stop using it and create your own. There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, it prevents your spouse from taking money from the account that belongs to you. This could leave you high and dry. Second, it makes it easier to move forward with your life once the divorce is final. While you may not be able to separate every account you have without a lawyer’s help, it’s recommended that you separate what you can. Stop putting money into your joint bank account soon after you decide to move forward with the divorce.
Don’t Put Your Kids in the Middle
When emotions are running high, it’s easy to cross the line and badmouth your spouse, either to or in front of your children. While you may think your soon-to-be ex-spouse is a bad person, your children more than likely disagree. Respect that the opinion you and your children hold of your ex will be very different and that they need support during this difficult transition.
Remember, divorce is often very scary to children and they’re uncertain about what the future holds. Even worse, badmouthing your ex could inadvertently make them feel like they have to choose sides. Instead of venting about your ex in front of the kids, try redirecting those emotions and talk to a friend, co-worker, or mental health professional who can provide a listening ear and the support you need.
Don’t Do Anything Without a Lawyer
Last but not least, you shouldn’t try to handle the divorce process by yourself. A divorce lawyer will be more knowledgeable about Texas laws. They can help mediate between you and your soon-to-be-former-spouse on issues such as alimony, child custody, and division of assets. A divorce lawyer is there to make sure your rights are protected and not taken advantage of.
Are You Ready to Move Forward With Divorce? Contact Hager Law Firm Today for a Consultation
When you’ve decided to move forward with a divorce, you need someone to advocate for your rights. They should help guide you through every step of the process. Sarina D. Hager of the Hager Law Firm is just that attorney. With nearly 30 years of practice under her belt, Attorney Hager has represented countless families in their divorce cases and navigated complex family law issues relating to child custody, support, and the division of assets. Call her today at (903) 466-0001 to schedule a consultation.