Separating from your partner or spouse is a stressful thing to deal with. There’s no denying that it’s tough to end a relationship, especially if you have been together for years. It can be made even more complicated if there are various other issues involved, from property and other assets to children or pets. It’s not always easy to keep your head straight and work out what’s happening and the best way to do things. However, it can help if you’re aware of some of the mistakes that you should avoid. If you’re separating or getting divorced, make sure you don’t do the following things.

Being Immediately Combative

A lot of difficult feelings can surround a separation. Whether you were the one to initiate it or not, you might be feeling angry and like you want to do your best to “win” the separation. It might be hard to be around your ex-partner any longer. But being combative and unbending when you’re trying to sort everything out could be a mistake. You’ll need to be able to come to an agreement about how to proceed, which could require making compromises and being as civil as possible to get the best outcomes.

Image from Pixabay – CC0 License

Bad-Talking Your Co-Parent

If you’re breaking up with the other parent of one or more of your children, it adds another layer of complication. You might be separating as partners, but you won’t usually stop being co-parents. One of the things you must avoid is talking negatively about your child’s other parents. While it’s important to tell them what’s happening, you need to leave them out of your adult issues as much as possible. What’s most important is that your children still have two parents who love them, and not which one of you is most in the right.

Not Being Truthful During Divorce

When you’re going through a divorce, you both have an obligation to be truthful and honest. If you lie about anything, such as any assets you own or what you earn, in an attempt to keep something for yourself, it could backfire. You might find yourself facing a penalty for hiding assets in divorce court. It’s essential to be upfront about everything from the beginning to make sure it’s all legally sound and the best results are obtained for everyone. You can negotiate how to handle finances and assets during the process.

Neglecting to Rethink Your Budget and Lifestyle

Splitting with a partner often means going from two incomes to one. You might also have additional expenses, such as higher rent. You might need to think about costs such as child support payments. It’s important to rethink your budget and lifestyle if you’re separating or getting divorced. You should make sure you come up with a new budget and consider whether you’re going to need to make any lifestyle changes after your separation so that you can live within your means.

It’s tough to go through a separation, but avoiding these mistakes can help to make it easier to experience.

Want to save some money during this time, then take a look at the article: Spending Less by Spending Smart

Take a look at our article How to divide your debt when getting divorced for further advice.