If you’re a man going through a divorce, you’ve probably noticed that there’s a shortage of divorce advice for men available – but there’s plenty of general advice.
This one’s for you, guys.
Divorce Advice for Men: What NOT to Do During Divorce
There are a handful of things you should absolutely not do while you’re going through a divorce:
- Do NOT decide you can represent yourself in court
- Do NOT give your ex money without getting a receipt
- Do NOT start a new relationship
What Not to Do During Divorce: Represent Yourself in Court
A lot of divorcing couples can get along well enough to hammer out the details together, and if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse are one of them, that’s great.
But you still need a lawyer.
Your attorney can help preserve your rights every step of the way, answer your questions, and file your paperwork for you. He or she will also negotiate on your behalf and make sure that your ex isn’t trying to take advantage of your good nature.
We can’t emphasize it enough: Your ex is going to have a lawyer. You need one, too.
What Not to Do During Divorce: Give Your Ex Money Without Getting a Receipt
She needs cash for the kids, the car payment or a credit card bill. There’s nothing wrong with giving her money (as long as you want to and you can afford it) – but you need a paper trail to prove that you gave it to her. It’s always best to write a check and include what it’s for in the subject line. That way, if it comes down to it, you can show in court that you’ve given her money for your children or whatever else.
What Not to Do During Divorce: Start a New Relationship
It’s hard to be alone – we know that. But during your divorce, you’ll have to tough it out. If you start a new relationship during your divorce and your ex finds out, it could completely kill her motivation to work with you. In fact, she could even use it against you in court.
Even worse than that, though, is that if you have children, they need you more than a new flame does. You need to focus your time and energy on them, not a new relationship.
Besides, you still need time to process your own emotions, which you can’t do if you’re in a relationship that takes that energy from you.
Do You Need to Talk to a Divorce Lawyer?
If you need specific divorce advice, the best place to get it is from a lawyer.
Call us at 414-383-6700 for a free divorce consultation right now. We can help you through this – and we’ll give you all the advice you need to come out on the other side.
