Dos And Don'ts Of Going Through A Divorce Or Separation

Are you considering splitting up with your partner? Do you feel unsure of yourself because you've never hired a family lawyer before? If you're wondering how to conduct yourself, here are some dos and don'ts to help you through the situation: 

Don't tell your attorney about trivial matters: You may have been frustrated that your partner had a string of romances, or that they spent all their time playing video games. But bringing up these topics in the family lawyer's office only adds to the amount of time you'll spend with the attorney and delays working on the important matters. Because of no-fault  laws, a divorce isn't impacted if one person is an uncaring louse. If you want to talk about your grievances, find a supportive friend that won't charge you for venting. 

Do tell your family lawyer everything important: If you ran up the credit cards and cleared out the checking account before you left, you should tell your attorney as soon as possible. If your partner knows of an instance when you weren't at your best, they may try to use it against you in the proceedings. You probably won't be the first person to tell your attorney about a temporary lapse of judgment, so don't be embarrassed to give all the details to your lawyer. If you try to hide your errors from your attorney, they could be surprised by the other side and not have time to prepare a response for your actions.

Don't sign anything before you talk to your attorney: You may feel so guilty about the divorce that you're considering signing over the house to your partner, giving them all the vehicles, and leaving with just a few essentials. Or your partner may be pressuring you into signing agreements and telling you that it's best to cut all ties as soon as possible. No matter what the reason is, avoid making any sort of agreement until your attorney can review the terms. A divorce can be highly emotional and very stressful, so you may not be in the best position to make decisions on your own. Your lawyer is looking out for your best interests, and they will advise you about agreements so that you don't do anything you'll regret in the future. 

Do try to agree about property whenever possible: You might be so angry at your partner that you've decided to seek revenge through legal proceedings. You may think it's time to make them suffer by arguing over every piece of furniture that you two purchased together, but it could end up costing you more than the items are worth. Not only do you have to pay your attorney every time you talk to them, you also have to pay your attorney every time they talk to your partner's lawyer. It may be painful to let your partner have more personal items than you think they deserve, but don't let your feelings cause you to incur unnecessary legal costs. 

For further assistance, contact a family lawyer, such as one from the offices of Lois Iannone Attorney at Law.

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