Divorce can be a financially and emotionally stressful process – a process that can make it hard for normally rational people to see straight. To help you be more prepared for what lies ahead, here are 4 divorce don'ts.
1. Don't think you have to keep the house. In the past, the spouse who kept the house won the divorce lottery, but in today's real estate market, things have changed.
Even if your house has sentimental value, keeping it may not make financial sense, especially if you can't refinance the loan in your own name, or if you can't afford to pay for the upkeep and property taxes.
2. Don't forget to take into account tax consequences. Should you keep the house or sell it? Should you accept monthly spousal support payments or a lump sum? You should consider consulting with an accountant or tax advisor to discuss the best strategies for your situation.
3. Don't go without health insurance. If you've been under your spouse's policy, you could be facing a gap in coverage. If you don't have access to your own coverage through your employment, continue on your spouse's under COBRA for up to 36 months, and take out your own as soon as possible.
4. Don't be careless on social media. Nowadays, divorce attorneys use social media accounts such as Facebook to find damaging evidence during a divorce. Be careful on social media, don't rant about your spouse, their attorney, or the judge handling your case.
Don't post pics of a new sweetheart, risqué photos of you, pics of you partying, or pics of extravagant purchases. Remember, anything you say and do on online could be used against you.
For more divorce tips, contact a Los Angeles divorce lawyer from our office for a free case evaluation!
