Divorce is a process that can be more than difficult, especially when things don’t end on great terms between you and your partner. Because of this, keeping an eye out for sneaky divorce tactics and having an attorney you trust to assist you can help you immensely throughout the process. Whether it’s child support or alimony, protecting yourself and your assets is essential.
Here’s what you need to know about sneaky divorce tactics in California.
The Top 10 Sneaky Divorce Tactics to Watch for in California
- Lying About or Hiding AssetsOne of the most common tactics you might see an ex-partner use during a divorce is lying about their assets. Because California follows community property laws, this means that everything that was acquired during a marriage needs to be split equally. When spouses don’t want to equally share what they have, one of them may lie about their assets on paper. This can occur with anything from income to properties, so it’s important that you and your lawyer watch for these occurrences.
- Stall and Delay TacticsStall and delay tactics are another practice you might see from an ex-spouse trying to put things off. Instead of filling out paperwork or coming to mutual agreements, they take everything to court or drag their feet in any area possible to make the process last as long as possible. By doing this, your own legal costs can increase greatly.
- Asking for More Parenting Time to Lessen Child SupportIn child custody and child support cases, some parents will request more parenting time in an attempt to lessen their child support. If the increase in parenting time is granted and that parent is found handing their kid off to family members instead of spending the time they requested with them, this could be another way to take advantage of you.
- Deny or Limit Access to InformationWhen an ex-partner doesn’t want to equally share their assets, you might notice them limiting the information they present throughout litigation. This is another tactic to watch out for, as this can result in you receiving less of what you are entitled to from your marriage. This is especially common when one of the spouses has handled most of the financial aspects of the marriage and then tries to ice the other out when a divorce happens.
- Waste Shared AssetsSometimes divorces can bring up intense feelings, whether they’re of sadness or anger. Some tactics you might see demonstrated by an ex-spouse include them wasting a range of your shared assets before the divorce is finalized. This could include spending excessive amounts of money on things like cars and lavish properties, or it could involve them getting rid of expensive and important items from the marriage.
- Intentionally Attempting to Turn Your Children Against YouChild custody cases can be more than complicated, especially when parents don’t agree on who gets what. Unfortunately, sometimes an ex may try to turn a child against the other parent when they’re angry at what they’ve done. Whether this is because that parent is upset that they didn’t get sole custody or angry at the parent for filing for divorce, partners may try and pit their child against the other parent to further complicate the divorce.
- Refusing to Pay Child Support or AlimonyRefusing to pay child support or alimony is another sneaky divorce tactic in California that affects more than just the ex-partner of the person who’s doing it. The unfortunate thing about parents refusing to pay child support is that they are also refusing to help take care of their child in most cases. If your partner refuses to pay the agreed amount for child support, you can file a petition with the court as it is a legally binding contract.
- Making False AllegationsAnother tactic that is often used by upset parents is making false accusations of neglect or abuse of the other parent. False allegations often come up when one parent is upset at the custody results in their case. When false accusations are being made about you, having an attorney to represent your side of the story is crucial.
- Rushing to SettleWhile some people in a divorce may use the stall and delay tactic to lengthen the process, others will try to force the process along as quickly as possible. If you notice that the process seems extremely rushed, your ex may be trying to hide something from you. Rushing to settle often means there are underlying issues that one spouse wants hidden or ignored from the court. They may also do this so that they receive a better division of property, income, or other assets if you agree without doing the research needed.
- Creating Conflict of InterestIf one spouse is trying to play dirty in the divorce process, they may limit the reputable lawyers with whom their ex can work by talking to them and sharing information about the case. If they do so, then this attorney now has a conflict of interest with the other spouse and cannot represent them in court.
FAQs About Sneaky Divorce Tactics in California
What can be used against you in a divorce?
Your spouse can try to use anything against you in a divorce, but a majority may not even be valid. To protect yourself and your assets, have an attorney assist you with the information you need to present and what you don’t.
What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in California?
California follows community property laws, meaning that spouses must equally split all property that was acquired together during marriage. In addition, your wife may also be entitled to spousal support.
How do you play dirty during a divorce?
If your ex is playing dirty during a divorce, you’ll need the help of an attorney to play dirty back. Simply put, if they try and stall and delay you, for example, you do something similar right back.
Does it make a difference who files for divorce first in California?
In most cases, there is no advantage for the spouse that files for divorce first.
If you’re in the middle of a difficult divorce, don’t go through it alone. At the Law Offices of Dorie Rodgers, our experienced attorneys can help you with whatever your situation might be. For representation and assistance with your divorce in California, contact us here.
