What Are the Biggest Mistakes People Make During a Divorce in Virginia?
You might think you are protecting yourself. You might think posting about it helps. You might think you can handle it alone. Attorney Shameka L. Rhoades has seen how each of those assumptions plays out in court.
Shameka L. Rhoades of Trustice Law Group shares the most common and most costly mistakes people make during divorce in Virginia. In this segment from ABC News Showcase, Shameka covers:
- Why posting about your divorce on social media hurts your case
- What happens when people try to handle a divorce without an attorney
- Whether fighting to keep the family home is always the right move
- What to do in the first 30 days after deciding to end a marriage
- The mistake people make when they feel guilty about the marriage ending
Watch the full segment below:
Stop Posting About Your Divorce on Social Media
When you post about your divorce on social media, you are sharing your legal strategy with the other side and creating evidence that opposing counsel can use in court. Statements made in anger on social media are still statements. Keep it off the internet.
Going Without a Lawyer Can Cost You More Than Hiring One
A final decree of divorce is a legal document with specific required elements. If those elements are missing, problems surface years later. A house still in both names five years after a divorce. A retirement account never formally divided. Getting those things corrected after the fact requires going back to court at greater cost. Hiring a lawyer at the start is less expensive than not hiring one.
Fighting to Keep the Family Home Is Not Always the Right Move
If you cannot afford the home, fighting to keep it is not the right move. Moving into a place you can actually afford is better than struggling to maintain a property that creates ongoing financial stress. Wanting to keep children in familiar surroundings is a legitimate reason, but only if the finances support it.
What to Do in the First 30 Days
First, seek counseling. Divorce is a loss and you are going to grieve it regardless of who initiates it. Second, contact an attorney. You do not know what you do not know. Those two steps in the first 30 days change everything that follows.
The Guilt Trap
Giving away equity in a home, agreeing to unfair financial arrangements, accepting custody and visitation terms that do not reflect what is truly best for the children because you feel guilty about the marriage ending. These are decisions the five-year version of you will have to live with. Before signing anything significant, talk to an attorney.
Trustice Law Group: Virginia Divorce Attorneys Who Help You Avoid the Mistakes That Cost the Most
At Trustice Law Group, we help clients across Virginia navigate divorce with clear legal guidance and representation that keeps their long-term interests at the center of every decision. We are a female-owned Virginia family law firm.
Real Law. Real Talk. Real Options.
Request a consultation or call us at 804-593-0788.
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FAQs
Can social media posts hurt my divorce case in Virginia?
Yes. Posts made during a divorce proceeding can be used as evidence. Statements made in anger, photos suggesting financial inconsistencies, and comments about your spouse can all be used against you in court.
What happens if I try to handle my divorce without a lawyer in Virginia?
You risk missing required elements in the final decree, leaving assets or debts unaddressed, and creating problems that are more expensive to fix later than they would have been to handle correctly from the start.
What should I do in the first 30 days after deciding to divorce in Virginia?
Seek counseling to process the emotional side of the transition, and contact a family law attorney immediately. Early legal guidance helps you make informed decisions before options narrow.