How to Have a Less Messy Divorce

Did you hear about the judge who had to decide whether the documents a woman had found in the dumpster behind her husband’s office were admissible as evidence in their divorce case?  Did you hear about the celebrity who bought a house in Miami, where he and his ex-wife lived together with their children, but when he went out of town, she married another guy and moved her husband into the house?  In other words, there is someone out there whose divorce is uglier than yours.  Despite this, it is possible that your divorce is uglier than it has to be.  When you are in the middle of a divorce, it is impossible to tell what either spouse could have done to prevent the breakup of the marriage, and it is not the right time to ruminate about it.  By being strategic about your divorce, though, you can reduce the chances that your divorce will require a trial, since divorce trials are expensive and stressful.  If you are planning to file for divorce, contact a Boca Raton divorce lawyer.

Strategize With a Divorce Lawyer Before You File for Divorce

It is legally permissible to represent your self in a divorce or other family law matter, but it is not advisable except in the simplest cases, where the parties were married only a short time, do not have children together, and own little property.  If your situation is more complex than that, you need a lawyer.  Before you file for divorce, you should meet with a divorce lawyer to strategize.  You can figure out whether uncontested divorce, whether the spouses file the divorce petition jointly, is a feasible option for you.  If it is not, your lawyer can help you figure out what to request in your divorce petition.

Focus on Getting the Financial Stability You Need to Move On, Not on Making Your Ex Suffer

Divorce is not about winning or losing.  If you prolong litigation just to waste marital assets or to prevent your spouse from being free to marry his or her new partner, the whole family will suffer, financially and otherwise.  Likewise, if you concede to all of your spouse’s demands just to keep the peace and get your divorce finalized quickly, you will end up with financial hardship, and there is a chance you will end up back in court for post-divorce litigation.  Instead, your goal should be working out your property division issues in mediation so that you can get a fair share of marital property and rebuild your finances after your divorce.

Choose a Lawyer You Can Communicate Well With

It is bad enough that you suffered such a communication breakdown with your spouse that you are now getting divorced, so if you have difficulty dealing with your divorce lawyer, this is doubly stressful.  Before you commit to a divorce lawyer, make sure that the lawyer is responsive and straightforward and that you have a good rapport.

Contact Schwartz | White About Getting Through Your Divorce

A South Florida family law attorney can help you be strategic in pursuing a divorce.  Contact Schwartz | White in Boca Raton, Florida about your case.