Ideally, a divorce process should be amicable and painless, with both spouses working together to reach an equitable marital settlement. However, the reality is often different. With high emotions and tensions flaring, individuals sometimes use underhanded tactics to gain the upper hand in divorce proceedings.
The reality is that divorce cases affect family dynamics, finances, and emotional and mental well-being. Though you might not believe that your spouse may be capable of playing dirty or retaliating, it is crucial that you remain vigilant and protect yourself and your family. If you are involved in a contentious divorce in Florida, it is essential that you are knowledgeable about sneaky divorce strategies and how you can deal with them.
In this blog, we will explore various sneaky divorce strategies in Florida and how you can deal with them. Let’s begin.
Parental alienation
Reducing the time spent with kids or turning children against a spouse is one of the most damaging and harmful tactics commonly employed in a divorce case. Usually, this strategy aims to show that they have invested more time in their children than the other spouse, making them the best choice for primary custody. Another aim is to manipulate children to choose them primarily instead of the other spouse.
When faced with this sneaky move, you can take assistance from divorce lawyers in Boca Raton and West Palm Beach Florida, to advocate for you. In cases where your kids are kept from you, they can turn things around and shine a light on the offending spouse.
Resisting negotiations or communication
Sometimes, a spouse may refuse to communicate or even negotiate. This can slow down the divorce hearing process and even cause frustration. The strategy aims to wear you down by hoping you avoid legal costs, give in to their offer, or buy time for them to achieve wins. Examples of these strategies include refusing offers of negotiations, refusing to pick up calls or reply to texts, and slowing down the process of signing paperwork.
The process of drawing out a divorce case is costly, and your attorney can use legal methods to show your spouse’s failure to communicate and, therefore, move the proceedings in your favor. When the other party realizes what they stand to lose by not communicating, they will begin to cooperate.
False Allegations
Sometimes, when an ex suspects that the hearing may not go their way or does not get the ruling they desire, a common strategy they employ is making false allegations to smear the character of the other parent in court so they reduce the visitation rights of the other parent to gain full custody.
There are various examples of allegations that might result in the loss of visitation or custody, which include domestic abuse, criminal behavior, child abuse or neglect, drug or alcohol addiction, and failing to comply with court orders for custody arrangement.
If false allegations are made against you, you should be honest and open with your attorney about your situation. This will allow them to offer guidance and represent you suitably.
Hiding Assets and Income
Florida is an equitable distribution state. This means that assets and wealth obtained in marriage are usually evenly split between spouses in the event of a divorce. This often results in sneaky practices where spouses keep money or assets hidden. Some of these sneaky movements include transferring assets or money to a family member, hiding possessions in undisclosed locations such as a safety deposit box, claiming false expenses, making large purchases in someone else’s name, or inaccurately reporting holdings or income.
Sometimes, knowing if assets or income are hidden during the separation period can be hard. However, your divorce attorney can offer to help investigate your spouse’s financial situation or search for suspicious spending activity. Usually, spouses conceal their true income during divorce to reduce financial obligations such as alimony (spousal support) or child support by reporting cash earnings, deferring commissions or bonuses, or sometimes making up fake business expenses to reduce taxable income.
Counteracting this strategy involves gathering financial records that offer insight into your spouse’s income, such as bank statements, tax returns, and pay stubs. Search for unexplained fluctuations or inconsistencies in their earnings.
Consider opting for a forensic accountant’s services to uncover hidden income sources. When it is discovered that your spouse is concealing income, they might face legal consequences for dishonesty. The court may also adjust support payments based on their real income.
Debt Fabrication
Sometimes, a spouse might exaggerate existing debts or fake debts to lower their financial responsibility during the settlement process or to make it seem like they don’t have enough disposable income. When faced with such during the divorce case, ensure to ask for documents of claimed debts and use financial disclosures to verify their legitimacy.
Moreover, when you suspect your spouse is making up debts, speak with your attorney. They can help you investigate further, and when caught, your spouse might face legal consequences for dishonesty.
Lowering Child Support via More Visitation
If children are in the picture during a divorce case, custody and timesharing negotiations are usually clouded by the child’s support orders, which usually follow. In certain cases, some spouses may request more time with their children to reduce the amount of child support payments. Commonly, the children are handed off to family members during the other spouse’s ‘days’, where, in fact, they are supposed to spend time with their parents.
When faced with such situations, speak with your family law attorney to express your concerns. This way, they can use all available means to ensure your children get what’s best for them.
Conclusion
The process of divorce is sometimes messy. However, the stressful process of divorce cases can be reduced by employing the services of a divorce attorney who can help you navigate everything about family law.
Affordable Divorce Center can help you anticipate these sneaky situations and respond without drama. Do visit the website to schedule a confidential consultation at our Boca Raton and West Palm Beach Florida offices today.
