Why Could Moving Out During a Divorce Harm Your Case?

Studies suggest less than one-third of married couples going through divorces continue living together during the process. The majority of these couples live apart while divorcing.

Taking this approach might seem sensible. However, a divorce lawyer in Oklahoma City will typically advise you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse against doing this.

See why moving out is the biggest mistake in a divorce.

You May Give a Divorce Judge the Impression You’ve Abandoned Your Spouse

When you and your spouse start the divorce process, you might agree that living in different places is right for everyone. Consequently, you may not think twice about packing up your things and leaving.

This could backfire if your divorce takes a contentious turn. Your spouse could claim you abandoned them by leaving your marital home — and you might not have enough evidence to mount a conflicting account of your alleged abandonment.

If this happens, you may inadvertently give a divorce judge the impression you abandoned your spouse and your children if you share them with your spouse. This could affect every aspect of your divorce and weaken any arguments you make in court.

You Could Affect the Decisions a Divorce Judge Makes Regarding Child Custody

If you and your spouse have children, you must pay close attention to why moving out is the biggest mistake in a divorce. This step might impact your ability to earn child custody and the parenting time you desire.

This will be especially true if you move to a place that isn’t near your children’s school or that could force them to uproot their lives every time they visit you. If you have no choice but to move out during a divorce, try to stay as close to your marital home as you can to alleviate concerns about child custody.

You Will Negatively Impact Your Financial Situation and the Equitable Distribution of Marital Assets

When considering why moving out is the biggest mistake in a divorce, don’t overlook the financial impact it will have. You will suddenly put yourself in a position where you’ll have to pay a significant amount of money to live in a new place.

At the same time, a divorce judge may still require you to foot the bill for some of the expenses associated with your marital home. They might also award more property rights to your spouse during the equitable distribution of marital assets.

Make Sure You Understand Why Moving Out Is the Biggest Mistake in a Divorce

Knowing why moving out is the biggest mistake in a divorce is critical. Otherwise, it could doom your divorce case and force your lawyer to choose a different legal strategy than they would like to use while handling your case. It could even alter asset division in a divorce.

Would you like to learn about other mistakes to avoid during a divorce? The divorce attorneys from Owens Law Office, PC, can help.

Call us at 405-608-0708 today to schedule a consultation.