When getting a divorce, some spouses will do anything to get a winning edge, including lying. While there are consequences for lying during a divorce, your spouse may still choose to take the risk. To help protect you and your kids during a divorce, you need to know what to look out for to spot lying in your divorce. Here are a few areas of divorce to keep an eye out for during your divorce:
Income
One of the biggest reasons a spouse may have to lie in their divorce is income. When trying to manipulate the values of child support and alimony, a spouse may lie and claim they earn less than they actually do to either increase the support or alimony they receive or decrease the amount they have to pay.
Abuse and neglect
In order to win the custody arrangement they are looking for, a parent may lie by claiming that you are either abusive or neglectful to your children. These claims can be especially dangerous, as even an allegation without evidence can be damaging to your reputation.
Infidelity
While rarely a major factor in a divorce, lies about infidelity can impact your divorce in the long run. These allegations can keep someone from accurately testifying about your character in court, and may even sway a judge’s decisions in court without them realizing it.
Asset values
During property division, a spouse may try to minimize the value of an asset that they want to keep, such as a motorcycle, recreational vehicle, or family home. A spouse may even go as far as to find an appraiser that will provide an inaccurate appraisal, so be sure you are getting a fair appraisal of your assets by having your own appraiser look at the property in your divorce.
How to combat lying
When going through a divorce, documentation is everything. Keep thorough records of all of your and your spouse’s finances and other important documentation. If you fear facing false accusations, keep evidence of your whereabouts and who was with you during those times, and avoid being alone in situations where you cannot prove what happened later on.
Consulting with your attorney can also help in preserving the truth and uncovering any lies that may already be in place. Do not give your spouse the benefit of the doubt and assume they are always being truthful, as it can cost you dearly in your divorce.