During a divorce, emotions and stakes are high. Your long-term financial well-being is dependent on the arrangements you come to with your former spouse. In a situation like this, there are some common mistakes that end up hurting divorcees. A good divorce attorney will help you avoid the following pitfalls, which can lead to ongoing personal and financial problems, including bankruptcy.

Potential Mistakes During Divorce

1. Negotiating Alone

If you go into informal negotiations or formal mediation without anyone else to represent your interests, you are likely to make unwise financial decisions. This can be due to ignorance of the law or to emotions that cloud your judgment during the process.

2. Agreeing Without Thinking

Many divorcees think to make the process smoother by being very agreeable. But this approach may lead to you agreeing to terms or obligations that are not in your best interests. A family law attorney will help you consider proposals rather than blindly agreeing to them.

3. Refusing to Compromise

On the other hand are divorcees who are simply too stubborn and who halt the process by insisting upon their way without exception. In a divorce, you are unlikely to get everything you want, and an attorney will help you to prioritize your desires and choose where to bend.

4. Not Understanding a Settlement

Before you come to a final agreement or sign anything, it’s vital to have a full understanding of every clause and provision, even ones that seem standard or unimportant. A lawyer is the person best qualified to translate a legal document like a divorce settlement into layman’s terms so you’ll understand.

5. Overlooking Major Financial Factors

You and your former spouse have likely discussed issues of assets, income, and child support, but what about debt incurred during the marriage by one or both parties? What about major costs like insurance, which will continue to affect both of you? An experienced divorce attorney will bring all these details to your attention.

If you are preparing for a divorce, don’t go it alone. Hire a divorce attorney from Arndt Buswell & Thorn S.C. in Sparta and Bangor, WI. Not only will you be able to draw on their 25 years of legal experience, but you’ll also start to form a relationship that can last for years and help you protect all your legal and financial interests. To schedule a consultation, call (608) 269-1200 for Sparta or (608) 486-2324 to reach their Bangor location. You can also contact them online.