10 Mistakes to Avoid Before Filing for Divorce

Filing for divorce is an overwhelming process, and even in the most amicable of divorces, it can be difficult emotionally, financially, and legally.

To help make the experience go more smoothly, there are some steps you can take to avoid unnecessary challenges both during the divorce as well as down the road.

10 Tips to Prepare for a Florida Divorce

• Don’t let the divorce drag on – Once you’ve made the decision to divorce, try to move through the process quickly. The longer things drag on, the more stressful the process may be for everyone involved, and the harder it will be on your emotional and mental health.
• Trust your feelings and goals – It can be easy to let those voices around you – those from friends, family, and neighbors – consume you, but ultimately, it’s your divorce and you are the one who has to move forward with your life. Trust yourself and the guidance you receive from professionals over anecdotal experiences and advice from acquaintances.
• Be ready to hear hard truths – Divorce uncovers everything, even the hard truths your spouse may have been hiding from you. Expect that you may encounter surprises, but don’t let them shake your confidences. Adjust and be ready to take action based on any new information that comes out of the divorce.
• Stay mentally strong – During one of the most stressful times in your life, it’s important to make time to for yourself. Your mental health should remain a priority before, during, and after divorce. Consider consulting with a mental health therapist to help you to stay emotionally grounded for your sake and the sake of your kids.
• Close joint accounts – Don’t be blindsided by debt from your soon-to-be ex. Close down all joint accounts as you prepare for divorce.
• Create a financial plan – Your finances will be significantly impacted by divorce. Start planning and saving several months in advance and be sure to consult with a financial planner to create a realistic budget and goals for your new financial future.
• Don’t over-commit yourself financially – As part of your financial planning, you’ll gain a fuller picture of your current and expected future expenses, but things may change. Don’t make promises you may not be in a position to keep.
• Ready, set, lawyer up – Divorce law is complicated, and you need an experienced Florida family law attorney on your side from Day 1. That last thing you want to do is unintentionally make your legal situation worse by trying to go it alone.
• Don’t try to create any “informal” arrangements – When couples separate, they sometimes try to create an “informal” custody arrangement, but what they don’t realize is that it creates a precedent in the eyes of the court. The judge may look at the situation and decide that if the kids are doing well with the informal custody arrangement, there’s no need to change it. This is just one more reason to speak with a lawyer very early in the process.
• Don’t rely on legal advice from Google! – Do not let yourself go down a rabbit hole on Google, especially when it comes to your divorce. Laws vary from state-to-state, and the circumstances of your individual situation demand specific strategies and actions that only an experienced family law attorney can provide. Blindly following generic advice from the internet will almost certainly make your situation worse.

Your divorce settlement will impact the rest of your life. The stakes couldn’t be any higher for you and your family. Contact our family law team at the Vasquez de Lara Law Group right away if you have questions, concerns, or are ready to take the next step.

Our team is here to help you create a sound divorce strategy, advocate for your rights, and fight for the best possible outcome.