How To Make Sure You Do Not Lose Everything In Divorce
Divorce brings many unknowns and it is natural to worry what your future may hold. For many people, one of the biggest fears they have during a divorce is that they are going to ‘lose everything.’ This does not really happen, though. The role of a family law judge in divorce is to ensure that each party walks away from the process with their fair share. Judges are very thoughtful and deliberate when making these decisions. It is important to be prepared, and a Port St. Lucie divorce lawyer can help you do just that.
Know the Equitable Distribution Laws of the State
Many people know, or at least have heard of someone that ‘lost everything in the divorce.’ Unless there were extremely extenuating circumstances, they likely did not lose everything but instead, did not have realistic expectations. Property division laws in Port St. Lucie and throughout the rest of Florida dictate that marital property is divided fairly, although not necessarily equally, during a divorce. It is important to know what is considered marital property, and what to expect during the process.
Marital property is any property you acquired with your spouse during your marriage. Even if you have a bank account that is under your name only, there is a chance that it will be subject to division if you acquired the account after you were married. This is particularly true if your spouse used the account, or if you used the funds within it to contribute to the household or other marital property.
It is crucial to know the law because misunderstanding it can result in people thinking they lost something that was not really legally theirs to begin with.
Remain Honest Throughout the Process
People sometimes become so scared of losing everything during the divorce process that they hide certain assets. This is a very big and costly mistake. If you hide assets during your divorce, they will be found. When they are, the judge will not look kindly upon you and may issue orders that favor your spouse because they remained honest throughout the process and provided full disclosure.
Hiding assets and otherwise being dishonest will not only hurt you during property division hearings. Once it is found that you were not honest, you will lose credibility in the eyes of the judge. This will impact not only the division of property, but also other issues such as alimony, child support, and child custody.
Work with a Family Lawyer in Port St. Lucie
One of the best ways to ensure your rights are protected and that you walk away from the divorce with what is rightfully yours is to work with a Port St. Lucie divorce lawyer. At Eighmie Law Firm, our skilled attorneys will advise you of the laws in the state, how they apply to your case, and will negotiate effectively with the other side for the fair settlement you deserve. Call us today at 772-905-8692 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.