What Not To Do When Going Through a Divorce

It is a well-known fact to anyone who has gone through a divorce – or those who have watched on the sidelines – that it is rarely a simple and smooth process. Emotions run high, sometimes making it difficult for couples to make rational decisions. Moreover, the need to sort through financial, custody, and other issues can run the risk of mistakes. For these reasons, it is important to contact a skilled Orlando divorce attorney right away if you or someone you know may be facing divorce.

Notwithstanding, there are a few things that should not be done when going through a divorce. Avoiding these actions will help keep regret at bay, at least when it comes to these specifics.

Don’t forget to change your estate planning – under the law, divorce does not automatically revoke a will. That means if your soon-to-be ex-spouse is a beneficiary this status will remain unless you take action otherwise. Keep in mind that if you pass before a divorce is finalized, and you’ve left nothing to your spouse, he or she can contest this and recover part of the estate.

Don’t dismiss the possibility of collaborative divorce or mediation – the majority of jurisdictions that allow collaborative divorce (which includes the help of professionals to divide property and manage emotional stress) have found this process to be less contentious; mediation occurs when a neutral third-party helps the spouses over a period of time to come to a mutual agreement.

Don’t take your frustrations out on the children – minimizing the amount you (or anyone else) talk about the divorce, and keeping emotions at bay, will better help the children cope with the change.

Don’t refuse to seek counseling – going through a divorce will likely evoke a rollercoaster of emotions; a therapist can not only help you through this process, but can assist you in learning and using methods to help the rest of the family adapt to this new chapter in life.

Don’t forget about Uncle Sam – when dividing marital property, it is important to take into account the tax consequences of the final result; make sure you contact a reputable financial planner to get a holistic picture of your financial status before coming to a final agreement.

Don’t increase your debts – divorce costs money and you must adjust your living according to the changes in your income; don’t add monetary stress on top of the difficult process that just occurred.

Don’t get pregnant – under Florida law, if a woman is married and becomes pregnant it is presumed that the husband is the father of the child. If you become pregnant by someone else while a divorce is yet final, it complicates the divorce process.

Divorce Help in Orlando

The decision to go through a divorce is often made after considering several factors. From property distribution to spousal support to time-sharing, the process can be complex. Accordingly, legal competence and attention to detail key when retaining a lawyer. Contact skilled divorce lawyers in Orlando prior to making any decisions about your divorce. The attorneys at Steve W. Marsee, P.A., serve clients throughout central Florida utilizing years of family law experience. Call today 407-521-7171 to schedule your initial consultation.