Even in the best of circumstances, divorce is not an easy process. If you proceed with caution, you can avoid some of the common mistakes that can waste time, increase aggravation, and cost a lot of money.
Before you even file for divorce in Los Angeles, you should have a well thought out strategy. The first step is to meet with an experienced family law attorney. An attorney will explain the law and clarify your rights and responsibilities.
Can I Save Money if I Use One of Those “Do-It-Yourself” Places?
You might be tempted by ads that offer a quick, easy, low-cost divorce. Instead, you may shell out hundreds of dollars only to have your divorce matter thrown out of court. There’s an old saying. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
You are better served by sitting down with an experienced divorce attorney who can explain the issues at hand. They can go over your case and be honest about how difficult your divorce might be. To ensure the best outcome, a complicated divorce matter should be handled correctly from the beginning and that typically means with the assistance of an attorney.
Can I Skip the Discovery Process to Save on Attorneys Fees?
If you skip important steps it could end up costing you more. The divorce process is meant to be handled right the first time. Discovery is necessary. Why? You need to make sure that you have all of the information as you make important decisions about the financial aspects of your divorce.
Discovery and a little hard work can help you get a favorable decision regarding the distribution of assets and debts. Financial discovery allows you to request certain documents that might be relevant to your divorce. These might include:
- Bank account statements
- Information on retirement accounts
- Real estate holdings, and more.
Skipping this step to save money or speed up the process could lead to regrets down the road. You risk missing something critical that could’ve been identified in the discovery process.
I’m So Angry With My Spouse, Can I Use My Divorce to Get Back at Them?
The ‘revenge’ mode often results in bad outcomes. The vengeful party often ends up shooting themselves in the foot. Although it is understandably difficult, you must keep your emotions in check during the divorce process. Try not to act on your emotions. Clear your head and think about the future. If you don’t, you risk making mistakes that you might regret months or years after the divorce is over.
Sit down with an attorney to find out what requests are reasonable. You might even want to seek out some counseling before you file for divorce so that you can better manage your emotions. Divorce is one of life’s greatest stressors. Seeking some help now could diminish how long and drawn out your divorce may get. It might even increase your prospects for a happy future.