The weeks and months leading up to a divorce are often some of the most emotionally charged and stressful parts of the divorce process. As such, it can be easy to make some mistakes in the heat of passion that can end up making your divorce more difficult for you than it has to be. Here are some pitfalls you should avoid when preparing to file for divorce.
Concealing assets
When you know that a court will soon be dividing your property, you might face the temptation to give some valuable assets to your friends or family in an attempt to move them out of the reach of your spouse. However, doing so can be a serious mistake.
Divorce courts have experience with the concealment of assets, and they will likely see right through even the most careful of efforts to deprive the other party of their rightful portion of marital assets. Under Washington law, judges can make a disposition of marital assets however they see fit under the circumstances, and they will likely punish the concealment of assets by giving a greater portion of assets to the other spouse.
Preemptively shutting down negotiations
Your divorce court does not have to impose asset division upon you. You and your spouse have the option of hiring attorneys and negotiating your own divorce agreement to present to the court.
Often, negotiating an agreement leads to a more favorable outcome than litigating in court, because you can fight for what you want most and make mutually beneficial compromises.
If you know that divorce is inevitable, it might be beneficial to try to maintain a cordial relationship with your spouse. If you keep the option of rational negotiation on the table, you might be able to minimize the odds of contentious litigation in court, and walk away from your divorce in a much better position than you otherwise would be in.