Separation and Divorce: Three Common Legal Mistakes and Practical Solutions
The process of divorce can be painful and overwhelming for all the parties. In general, the separation brings up negative emotions which can escalate into serious disagreements. Often, the children from the union will also experience emotional, mental and physical stress. Therefore, if you are going through this change in your life, you should be prepared to handle the separation with grace. Facing the situation with a clear head will help you avoid lengthy legal disputes and prevent negative repercussions for the children. Here is a brief discussion to help you understand the common mistakes you can make during the divorce proceedings and ways to avoid them.
Rejecting Legal Counsel
You should hire an experienced family lawyer to help you through the divorce process. Often, individuals make mistakes during the separation because they do not have someone with the right knowledge providing guidance and steering in the right direction. In some cases, a person going through a divorce might also make the wrong choice due to negative emotions and stress. When you have a lawyer in your corner, you will not only have an expert with extensive legal knowledge. You will also have a voice of reason to keep you from making irrational decisions. Under ideal circumstances, you should engage a full-time lawyer. However, if this option is invalid, you should get, at least, have a professional to review the documentation.
Using Underage Children
Numerous parents use and misuse their children during divorce proceedings without realising the harm caused by their actions. The use of kids as bargaining chips and pawns during the separation is considered to be a form of abuse. Therefore, irresponsible actions can traumatise your children and even compromise your custody case. In general, it is not advisable to send your underage kids to pass messages to your ex-spouse. If you wish to communicate indirectly, you should consult your lawyer. You should also remember that your children are not therapists; do not overshare. Additionally, you should protect the minors; do not speak ill of the other party in their presence.
Refusing Negotiation
You should not be unwilling to negotiate during the divorce proceedings. It is not uncommon for the process to drag out unnecessarily because of the lack of room for an open discussion. Choosing to go on the offence directly or going to the court could be detrimental in the long-term because of the wasted time and legal charges. Therefore, you should consider the presented offers for negotiation before an escalation of the process.