4 Mistakes to Avoid During a Simple Divorce

1. Thinking “simple” means you can skip the lawyer entirely

You’ve seen the $299 online packets and heard your cousin brag about doing it all on LegalZoom. So you figure, why pay a lawyer when you both get along? Huge mistake.

Even in a simple divorce, one missed box or poorly worded sentence can lock you into something you’ll hate forever. Lawyers spot landmines you didn’t know existed and clauses that sound fair today but will ruin you tomorrow. Spending a couple thousand now beats paying tens of thousands fixing it later.

2. Leaving anything up to “we’ll figure it out later”

You trust each other right now, so you say things like “you can just keep the house and I’ll take the boat” or “we’ll split the tax refund when it comes.” That warmth feels noble in the moment. Then life happens and suddenly nobody remembers who promised what.

Courts hate vagueness. If it’s not written down, signed, and attached to the final judgment, it doesn’t exist. Write down every single detail: who gets the Netflix password, who pays the last credit card bill, who claims the dog on taxes next year. Yes, even the stupid stuff. The more you spell out now, the less you’ll fight later.

3. Letting guilt or anger drive the deal

Guilt makes you give away way too much just to be the “good guy.” Anger makes you fight over the $400 patio set because you’re mad about the affair. Both emotions cost you money and drag out the process.

Take a week away from the papers every time you feel that heat rising. Sleep on every draft. Read it out loud. Show it to someone ruthless who loves you. Your feelings are valid, but they make terrible accountants. Make decisions when you’re calm enough to explain them to your future self without cringing.

4. Filing the paperwork yourself to save $89

You filled everything out perfectly, hit submit, and felt like a genius. Then the clerk kicks it back because you forgot to check one box on page 17, or you used the wrong financial affidavit form that changed last year. Now you wait another 30-60 days while the court fixes your mistake.

Pay the lawyer or the paralegal to file it correctly the first time. That tiny filing fee you tried to save just cost you another month of being legally married and another round of stress you didn’t need.

Keep It Simple By Treating It Seriously

A truly simple divorce only stays simple when you refuse to cut corners on the big stuff. Do these things and you’ll be the rare couple who actually gets the clean, quick, drama-free split everyone wishes for. Skip them, and you’ll turn the easiest divorce on paper into the longest year of your life.