Mar 25, 2016
Divorce is sometimes a heated, painful process. Finding yourself in the midst of a battle with someone you thought you’d be spending the rest of your life with can sometimes rob you of your better judgment, and lead you to want to cause them as much discomfort and pain as possible. These behaviors, however, can end up inflicting as much of a financial sting on you as they do your ex. Read on to learn about ways that parties to a divorce may unwittingly cause their divorce to cost more than it must.
Failing to agree on as many aspects of a settlement as possible in advance
If you can’t manage to exchange a civil word with your spouse, it may seem inconceivable to try and work out an agreement on such fraught topics as who will have custody of the kids and how your property will be divided among you. Leaving all these decisions to the judge, however, will result in months, if not years, of fighting, and will quickly deplete your financial resources. You may benefit from hiring an attorney who can act as an informal mediator for these settlement conversations.
Failing to compromise on any topics
Letting go of a particular piece of property, or even custody of your children on a special holiday, can feel like you’ve allowed your ex to “win,” when you may be more interested in watching them lose. Engaging in prolonged battles will leave you exhausted. Sometimes, relinquishing to your spouse’s desires can engender good will, leading your spouse to be the one to compromise on other issues.
Seeking a decision or order from the court on every issue
The court is intended to serve as the final word in your disputes with your spouse, and you may have no choice but to seek an order from the judge if your spouse refuses to comply with existing orders. But, not only will you spend hundreds of dollars in court costs and attorneys’ fees by seeking the court’s help in resolving every dispute, you will also become a source of frustration to the judge. Try to work out disagreements informally, rather than using the court as your primary means of communication with your ex.
Failing to obtain documentation requested by attorney
Both parties must fully disclose their financial circumstances to each other and/or provide relevant documentation to each party concerning custody and financial issues. Failing to obtain and exchange such information typically results in motions and possible attorney fees paid to the non-offending party, as well as underlying feelings of anger and distrust which make it difficult to settle the case. When you are asked by your attorney to get documentation, and if you don’t want to turn it over the opposing party, ask your attorney whether there is any way to legally object to the disclosure.
Prolonged or unnecessary communication with attorney
Abraham Lincoln said, “A lawyer’s time and advice are his stock in trade.” Attorneys generally bill by the hour, which also includes their time spent on phone calls, emails and driving to hearings or meetings. Limit your communication to necessary subjects. Don’t copy your attorney on every email you send to your ex, or call them every time you are angered by your ex. In the reverse, don’t hold back from contacting your attorney on important issues merely because you don’t want to be charged.
If you are in need of experienced, dedicated, and cost-sensitive legal representation for your Kentucky divorce or custody dispute, contact the seasoned and compassionate Florence family law attorneys at Greta Hoffman & Associates, at 859-535-0264.
