Divorcing couples often make common mistakes during the legal process that can cost them time and money. By slowing down the process, taking legal advice, and hiring a mediator, many critical issues are avoided.

The 10 most common mistakes made during a divorce can complicate the dissolution of marriage, making it harder to resolve marital issues. As a result, the final consequences of the dissolution of marriage can often be devastating to the newly divorced couple.

The common mistakes include:

• Don’t Hurry – When dissolving the marriage, usually one spouse just wants to get it over with. However, moving quickly through the process can cause problems later on. Discuss the best financial and legal course with an attorney before signing any papers.

• Never let your attorney decide for you – No matter how experienced an attorney is with divorce proceedings, you will live by every decision, not them, made for the rest of your life. After taking the attorney’s advice, carefully weigh your options before deciding the appropriate course for you.

• Never make decisions when upset or depressed – Because divorce is extremely stressful and emotional, you should never make a decision when upset or depressed. Only decide what is right when feeling strong.

• Listening to divorce advice from friends and family – Even though your family and friends are well intended, they will not have all the information to help you make accurate decisions. Listen to the advice of your attorney before making your own decision concerning your divorce.

• Using the divorce as a tool to punish the spouse – Although you may feel strong about punishing your spouse for causing the divorce, doing so will cost you and your children more than it is worth.

• Not fighting for what is fair – Part of settling any divorce amicably requires picking the right type of fight. While you certainly should fight for what is fair, especially if there are hidden assets, spending huge money on attorney fees to gain a small advantage is a waste of time, money, and energy.

• Not journalizing – Because both of you are attempting to dissolve the marriage, it is important to keep a journal of daily events as a way to ensure you can remember everything that has occurred.

• Avoiding mediation options – Hiring a mediator instead of seeing a judge for your divorce can save hassle and keep your dissolution of marriage out of the public eye.

• Failing to understand responsibility for unsecured debt – You most likely have a shared responsibility for unsecured debt that needs to be handled at the time of the divorce.

• Securing future support payments – In the event your former spouse passes away, you will need to make sure you have insurance that fulfills future support payments.

Protecting yourself financially is one of the most important aspects of the divorce process. It is essential to minimize your mistakes and maximize your spousal supportpayments.

By Kenny Leigh