In many contested divorce and custody cases, spouses and parents accuse each other of lying. This can make it difficult for the court to determine what’s true and what’s not, and it can leave the legal issues at hand in a precarious position.
So, don’t be quick to write off your spouse’s or your child’s other parent’s lies, and make sure you’re being as open and as honest as possible throughout the process. If you’re not, then bad outcomes can result.
In fact, letting falsehoods go unchecked can wreak havoc on your child custody arrangement or your post-divorce life. Let’s take a closer look at how that’s possible.
How lies can negatively impact the result of a divorce or custody dispute
Unless the court is convinced to rule otherwise, a determination in your case might be based on lies. Here are some of the harmful outcomes that might come from such a ruling:
- Lost trust: When lies are told in court, thereby affecting the outcome of whatever legal issue is in play, trust between the parties can be eroded. This can negatively impact your co-parenting relationship with the other parent and make it difficult to carry out the court’s orders once your divorce is finalized. But these lies can also negatively impact your relationship with your child, as your child might come to believe whatever lies are told in court, or they might come to think of you as a dishonest person. To avoid this, be sure to set the record straight in your case by being honest and calling out any lies that your spouse tells.
- Unfair property division: Lies pertaining to marital and individually owned property can have a tremendous impact on your future financial stability. These falsehoods can lead to unbalanced and unfair division of assets, and it might result in you being denied the financial support that you need. On the flip side, unchecked lies could leave you on the hook for undeserved spousal support. Make sure you have documentary evidence that supports the truth and your position heading into your divorce.
- Legal problems: Lying to the court can lead to a finding of contempt, and it could even go so far as to lead to allegations of perjury. This, in turn, can cause you to lose trust with the court, and it can lead to significant penalties, including having to pay fees or even face incarceration.
How can you protect yourself from lies in your divorce case?
There are several ways to protect yourself here. As you navigate your marriage dissolution, you should think about doing the following:
- Keeping detailed written records about interactions you’ve had with your spouse or your child’s other parent.
- Reducing communication to writing.
- Being transparent.
- Avoiding minimizing or exaggerating issues.
- Gathering documentary evidence that’s reliable.
- Using witnesses who are credible.
- Focusing on your child’s best interests.
- Utilizing a child custody evaluation.
There may be other ways to protect the integrity of your divorce. Just make sure that you’re staying honest and are putting forth evidence to contradict any lies that the other party states to the court.
Are you ready to navigate your divorce or child custody case?
If so, be sure to enter the process with a well-developed plan. Think through what you want out of your marriage dissolution and anticipate what your spouse or the other parent might argue in response. Then, you can focus on gathering the evidence that best positions you to prove your case and deflect the other side’s position. Hopefully then you can secure the outcome that you want and one that’s based on the facts and the truth.