Ending a marriage can be a confusing and emotionally fraught process, and it can be challenging to navigate without the help of a professional divorce lawyer. A skilled counselor will strive to make the proceedings as stress-free and civil as possible while protecting your interests. Aside from not seeking an attorney, several mistakes can lead to a less-than-favorable outcome during your divorce proceedings.

3 Common Mistakes During Divorce Proceedings

1. Making Disparaging Remarks Around Kids

If children are still in the home, a divorce lawyer will advise you not to express your frustration over the proceedings around them. Maintaining a healthy home life should be a top priority, and bad-mouthing your soon-to-be former spouse could damage yours and their relationship with the kids. As the courts work to make decisions in the best interest of minors, making disparaging remarks could also influence the terms of your custody arrangement. Remaining civil will protect you and your children as the judge decides custody, finances, and other issues.

2. Discussing Developments on Social Media

If you are prone to sharing your life on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites, keep the details about your divorce offline. Even with privacy settings, any of your friends or followers can pass the information on to others. This increases the risk of messy details getting back to your children, your family, or the court handling your proceedings. Your spouse could also hear about insults directed at them, and be prompted to take out their anger by disagreeing to your terms, lengthening the divorce process, or demanding the intervention of a divorce mediation attorney.

3. Forgetting to Revise Your Estate Plan

During divorce proceedings, don’t forget to remove your spouse from your estate plan. Otherwise, in the event you should die before proceedings are finalized, they could be entitled to your personal property. If you don’t have a will, work with an attorney to create one before you file for divorce. The document should exclude your spouse and designate who your money and property will transfer to after your death. This will prevent the need for further court proceedings to decide who is entitled to your assets.

If you’ve decided to end your marriage, contact The Law Office of Gregory G. St. John, LLC in Waterbury, CT. Since 2000, this divorce lawyer has helped clients throughout New Haven, and Litchfield counties resolve family law cases, seek damages for personal injuries, and put criminal matters behind them. To consult with a divorce lawyer and ask questions, call (203) 759-0240. You can also visit the attorney online to request an appointment and Facebook for more legal advice.