Pennsylvania is one of the few states where a spouse can be forced to delay their divorce if their husband or wife does not “consent” to the divorce. With that in mind, it certainly benefits spouses to treat each other with dignity and respect during the divorce process, otherwise, a mutual consent divorce can quickly turn into a contested divorce, thereby delaying the inevitable, even if it’s only to “punish” a misbehaving spouse.
If your spouse has agreed to an uncontested, no-fault divorce, congratulations! Now that everything is on the right track, let’s keep it that way. Here is a list of what not to do during the divorce process. If you’re able to stick to our advice, you’re setting yourself up for success.
- Like we mentioned above, be “nice” to your spouse, even if it feels unnatural. You’ll find that if you treat him or her with respect, the divorce process will be much easier.
- Refrain from airing your dirty laundry to your child’s school teacher, your co-workers, and your neighbors. It’s better to take the highroad and keep your personal business private.
- Do not discuss your divorce on social media. It’s counterproductive and can upset your soon-to-be-ex.
- Do not badmouth your spouse to your children. It only hurts their feelings and there is no point in harming their relationship with their other parent.
- Do not let anger, bitterness, or jealousy get the best of you. Such emotions can cause one to act irrationally. Be the bigger person.
- Don’t destroy your spouse’s property, even if he or she cheated on you. It’s actually a crime to destroy others’ personal property.
- Do not hide assets from your spouse; this can get you into trouble.
- Do not charge up all the credit cards out of anger. This not only hurts your spouse’s credit, it hurts yours and you can be held liable for a portion, if not all of the new debt depending on the facts of the case.
In the midst of a divorce, you want to act as mature and responsible as possible, even if your heart says otherwise. Soon, the divorce will be over and you’ll be able to rebuild your new life.
Searching for a Pennsylvania no-fault divorce lawyer? Contact Cairns Law Offices today to learn all about our low-cost divorce services!
