What Not to Do During a Divorce

THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T DO WHEN GETTING DIVORCED Don't expect to come away with a windfall. You and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse will have to start supporting two households on the same income that used to support one-which means you won't get to keep the house and the cars and all the accounts. Don't try to hide money. Hiding assets in an attempt to shield them from your spouse is a bad idea. You can be held in contempt of court and sanctioned. Don't do things out of spite. No matter how angry you are right now, setting your husband's beloved golf clubs out in the rain to rust is not a good move. You end up looking bitter and irrational, which could temper the judge's opinion 4 Don't expect to share the pet. Virtually all judges will award the pet to one person. The person who adopted her, takes her to the vet, and cares for her on a daily basis will likely be favored. Don't surprise your spouse by serving him in public. It might seem like the next-best thing to recording your own revenge song and airing it on the radio, but it can backfire. 9. Don't fight over things you don't care about. Instead, focus on what's important. Full custody of the kids? Getting the house that belonged to your grandma? Keep your eyes on a big prize and don't sweat the small stuff. Don't make the kids pawns. Divorce is hard enough on children without the parents pushing them into a tug-of-war over who they love more. 8. Don't fight over things you don't care about. you're usually better off settling out of court, especially if you don't have children or a house or haven't been married very long. Trial is very expensive, and few people end up happy when they're paying their divorce lawyer more than they will get from the divorce. 6. Don't rule out mediators. Although a good lawyer who moves your case along quickly shouldn't be too expensive, there's a chance you might not need an attorney at all. This option works well for those who are reasonably well informed about their finances. www.fennellatlaw.com | Call Us Today: 770-479-0248 2230 Towne Lake Pkwy Building 600 Suite 140 Woodstock, GA 30189 THE LAW FIRM OF A CARYN S. FENNELL