Mistake #1: Taking action without obtaining legal advice.

Divorces are full of financial pitfalls. A skilled family lawyer can help you avoid them.

Mistake #2: Moving out of the matrimonial home.

The decision to move out of the matrimonial home is a major one. You should not move out until you consult with your lawyer and consider all the facts of your case. By moving out, you could prejudice your right to possess the home or to have custody of your children.

Mistake #3: Failing to realize the importance of the status quo.

One of the most important concepts in family law is that of the status quo. The courts are loathe to change the way things are going, unless it is clear that there is a big problem. For instance, if you make payments to your spouse without a court order, it will become difficult to convince a court that you cannot afford to continue making the payments.

Mistake #4: Making decisions while you are depressed or upset about your divorce.

A divorce is a very emotional and difficult time. If you make decisions when you are depressed or upset, you can easily make bad decisions. Try to make important decisions only when you feel strong.

Mistake #5: Getting divorce advice from family and friends.

No doubt you will hear a lot of urban legends about divorce law. Many of them are not correct. While your family may have good intentions and want to help you, that does not change the fact that many things they tell you may not be accurate. Just because your friend got the house in his or her divorce does not mean that you will too. The only reliable source of divorce information is your lawyer.

Mistake #6: Using your divorce to punish your former spouse.

Not only will this cost you a bomb, but it will also hurt you and your children a lot.

Mistake #7: Failing to think strategically.

Thinking strategically means deciding what is worth fighting for and what is not worth fighting for. It may be too expensive to fight about everything with your former spouse. You also have to decide how much you are willing to pay to fight for your assets. It does not make sense to spend $5,000 in legal fees to get $1,000 more in your divorce settlement.

Mistake #8: Being generous to win back your spouse.

This does not work. If your marriage is over, no amount of generosity will win your spouse back.

Mistake #9: Failing to keep a journal.

In a highly contested case, the details of what has happened can be particularly important. A journal that contains all the daily events surrounding the divorce will be invaluable when you want to remember what has occurred.

Mistake #10: Overlooking the mediation option.

Mediation is where you and your spouse, together with a mediator, discuss the issues you face in hopes of reaching an acceptable agreement. The mediator is a neutral third party who helps you and your spouse work towards a reasonable solution of the issues in your divorce. In many cases, mediation may be the quickest and cheapest way of reaching an agreement with your spouse. And because it happens so quickly, you avoid much of the emotional trauma that you and your children might otherwise have to endure.

Mistake #11: Failing to obtain security for support payments.

If your former spouse dies, what will you do without the child support payments you were receiving? Getting appropriate life insurance can make all of the difference..

Recent Tweets from the BARN

*The following was sent into the BARN by Donna of Briggsdale, CO…Thanks for sharing… THE OLD PATHS I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home. Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married BEFORE having children!Crime did not pay; Hard work did; And people knew the difference.Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave.Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive; And children were polite.Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants.Women looked like la

on being your mom with depression.

Some of my earliest memories occurred when I was your age. And sadly most of them revolve around the divorce of your grandma and grandpa. I remember being in the bathtub while they were fighting in the living room, sissy came in to cover my ears so I wouldn’t hear them. I don’t ever remember what they said, all I know is there was a lot of yelling and my dad moved out. I was one of the only kids in my elementary class to have divorced parents, it was a surreal feeling. But looking back I w

Here Is A Rough Version Of The First Chapter Of My Book?

Chapter 1 “No! I will not stay here and deal with her! We live like such fools! Forget your regrets about the divorce! I’m not going to come running to you either! I’m leaving for good!” Candace yelled into the receiver. “Well, you’re going to have to stay, whether you like it or not. What is your other choice?” Mr. Timmons insisted in a frustrated tone. He was becoming increasingly impatient with Candace and her demands. “I have had it with both you and Mom! I am just going t

You can also get more tips by reading more here.

Kate Gosselin Hires The Lawyer Suing Us For McSteamy Tape To Sue Jon Gosselin

What a small world! Who would've thought? Marty Singer —the lawyer laying into my boss for a cool mil over the McSteamy Tape—would be taking other big-money cases on behalf of sleazy celebrities? Well, he got to Kate Gosselin ! Mind you: this is the same guy who breathlessly reminded the American legal system that Eric Dane is on the Emmy Award-winning Grey's Anatomy in his lawsuit against us for posting a tape of Eric Dane trying to spice up his marriage in a threesome with his now-preg

Jon Gosselin Wipes Out Bank Account, Seeks To Destroy Kate Plus 8

Everybody's favorite douche, Jon Gosselin, has had a banner week! For those who didn't know, TLC finally took Jon up on his efforts to get booted from his contract; well, sort of.  What they did was announce plans to keep Jon muzzled by removing him from Jon & Kate Plus 8, but maintaining their exclusivity over his, er, talents.  Obviously this did not settle well with free-wheeling Jon. First, he took action to drag out his divorce from Kate, which should have been finalized last month. N

Texting while stupid

Via Hasta Los Gatos Quieren Zapatos (which, for inexplicable reasons, comes up with a warning that it contains “questionable” content… which seems to be an attempt to censor the not in the least dubious, or even salacious writers, Leesee and Reenee. It’s ok to proceed) from the Tampa Tribune : Wikler Moran-Mora texted his wife to say he had been kidnapped and wouldn’t be let go until he gave his captors money. His worried wife called law enforcement. … After a full-scal

You can also get resources at PA Divorce Lawyers.

Dallas Judge Shoots Down Texas’ Ban on Gay Marriage

Lone Star state-voters are opening their newspapers this morning to word that on Thursday, a Dallas judge cleared the way for two Dallas men to get a divorce. In so doing, the judge ruled that Texas' ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitutional guarantee to equal protection under the law.

Jon Gosselin: kids don’t have work permits needed to film show, it’s over

Embedded video from CNN Video Segment of Jon Gosselin’s Larry King interview. The full interview is below Jon Gosselin and his giant vacant eyes were on CNN’s Larry King Live last night. (You can watch the whole interview as a podcast , view the whole video below, or read the transcript .) He explained that he read online that he would no longer be a part of the show and that no one told him ahead of time. He also said that Kate didn’t tell him about it and that he hasn’t spoken to her in

Jon Gosselin: Realty TV Is Bad For My Kids

Now he says something: LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — After four years of “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” Jon Gosselin said he’s decided it’s not healthy for his children to be on a reality show. “The reason I don’t think it’s healthy for them is that we’re going through a divorce right now, and I don’t think it should be televised and I think my kids should be taken off the show,” Gosselin told CNN’s Larry King on Thursday night. “They’re 5 and 8 now; let them experience a normal childhood,”

You can also get tips at PA Divorce Lawyers.

Amy Winehouse And Blake On Come Dine With Me, In Pictures

AMY Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil are back together. And the good news is that their romance is being enacted in the hygienic glare of Facebook and over a dinner table. As the Sun tells us: The pair – caught having sex soon after their August divorce – swapped sugary messages. No, not brown sugar. This is sugar as in the sweetness and syrup: Singer Amy, 26, logged on to the social networking site at 7am to remind him about old times. She said: “I found a picture of you three boys

Jon Gosselin Puts Hold on Divorce

TLC announced recently, that they had renamed the popular reality TV show “Jon and Kate Plus 8,” and from November 2nd, father of eight Jon Gosselin, was going to be off the show. The show will reportedly continue as “Kate Plus 8.” And according to reports from actressarchives.com , shortly after the announcement was made, Jon Gosselin supposedly decided to put a hold on his divorce proceedings. And it doesn’t mean that they are getting back together either. Jon has apparently asked for th

Whitney Houston “humbled” by support of contemporaries

London, Oct 1 (ANI): Whitney Houston says she was touched by the support lent to her by leading artists who showed their interest in joining her comeback album. The 46-year-old pop diva returned to top the US charts with I Look To You in August this year. The record was eagerly awaited, especially because it was Houston’s first studio album after her drug habit had caught the public eye and her divorce with Bobby Brown. The Daily Express quoted her as telling Pride magazine: “I

You can also get info at PA Divorce Lawyer.