Do’s And Don’ts to Remember in an Orange County Divorce
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Many people have the notion that getting a divorce is a very straightforward process, especially in California, where divorce rates are higher than the rest of the country. The truth is, even if you don’t have children or significant assets, a divorce can be extremely complicated. If you have decided to divorce your spouse, you should be aware of the do’s and don’ts regarding your case. This will not only help you prepare yourself for the divorce, but may also help sway the court in your favor (if the divorce is not amicable).
What To Do–
Hire a knowledgeable Orange County family law attorney
This especially goes for couples who are not on cordial terms, and they know they are going to be fighting on critical issues such as child custody, splitting of assets, and spousal support.
With an experienced divorce attorney in Orange County on your side, you will have expert guidance on every step of the proceedings. Your attorney will help you make intelligent decisions from a rational place (instead of emotional), so you don’t end up without a desirable outcome.
If you try to accomplish the divorce on your own, you’ll likely miss some key aspects of the process which could have a serious impact on the rest of your life.
Take Inventory Of Your Possessions
Many people don’t realize just how much they have until they count it up. As soon as divorce papers are served, start categorizing your possessions into two groups: what you have now and what you had before your marriage. Make a complete list of all your items so you can see what you want to fight for, if the time comes to argue over the splitting of property.
Respond To Divorce Papers
In California, only one party has to consent to divorce for it to get finalized. This means that if one spouse is non-consenting to the divorce, they will have no choice but to proceed with it. If your spouse serves you with divorce papers, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have no role in the divorce because you don’t want it. Respond to the divorce papers as soon as possible. In California, you only have 30 days to file your response before the divorce will be finalized by default.
What Not To Do–
Don’t Send Negative Messages To Your Spouse
In many cases, when spouses turn bitter towards each other, and are fighting to divorce, they make emotional decisions. This includes sending angry, threatening, or abusive messages to the other party via text messages, email, Facebook, or some other social media platform. Remember, if you do the same, your messages against you in the divorce proceedings. It’s better to stay off all social media altogether until your divorce gets finalized. Pay careful attention to all the things you say to, especially in the written format, such as text messages and emails.
Don’t Sign Paperwork Without Understanding It
A signature is a very powerful thing, especially in the legal world. If you are asked to sign on the dotted line, make sure you fully understand what the paperwork is about. Even if you are cordial to your soon-to-be-ex spouse, do not sign something without talking to an attorney before.
Don’t Share Credit Cards And Bank Accounts With Soon-To-Be-Ex Spouse
Once divorce papers are served, don’t make the mistake of using or credit card as you were. This will unnecessarily complicate matters when it comes time to divide the assets. However, don’t try to remove the other party’s name from the joint bank accounts, real property deeds, life insurance policies, etc. without talking to an attorney. You should open your separate account and line of credit as soon as.
Don’t Talk About The Divorce On Social Media
Just like you should send hateful messages to your spouse on social media, you shouldn’t comment or post anything at all about the divorce. Once the legal proceedings start, conduct yourself respectfully, or it can look bad on your part. But it’s not just about image, any comment about your pending divorce can affect the outcome as well.
Keep A Journal Of Interactions Between Yourself And The Other Party
If spousal support or child support is an issue, record the dates the payments were made, how much was paid, and how often support payments are made. Also try to maintain copies of all the support payments. If child custody is an issue, make sure you record who has custody and when; whether the children are returned unclean or unfed; whether the other spouse is routinely late for drop-off or pick-up times.
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