Three Costly Mistakes to Avoid in a Texas Divorce

 Posted on December 15, 2025 in Divorce

It is rare for anyone to be truly prepared for a divorce. With so much ground to cover in the legal proceedings, unprecedented issues are bound to emerge. Your response to these issues will shape your divorce, so it is best to have a lawyer at your side who can advise you of your best course of action.

At The Law Office of Linda Risinger, our Denton, TX family law attorneys are here to guide you through your divorce to avoid common pitfalls that end up costing people time and money. We focus on reaching the best results, pursuing tailored solutions based on your unique needs.

Three Costly Mistakes in a Divorce

Posting on Social Media

During your divorce, everything you say or post could be used against you. With that in mind, it is often better to avoid leaving a digital trail on social media until your divorce is finalized. Badmouthing your spouse can unnecessarily escalate the situation, possibly making negotiation more difficult. In divorces with children, posting negatively about your soon-to-be ex may also signal to a judge that you cannot coparent effectively.

Even seemingly innocuous posts – like enjoying a night out or going on a vacation – can be used against you in ways you might not expect. As a rule, if you are unsure if something is safe to post, you should exercise caution and hold off until your divorce is over.

Lying About Assets

Accounting for all of your property is one of the most important parts of a divorce. In the discovery phase, you and your spouse will exchange information about each other’s assets by providing relevant documents upon request, answering written questions, or making sworn statements.

Hiding or lying about your property in a divorce could come back to haunt you in multiple ways. Since Texas law prioritizes a "just and right" division of assets, any attempt to conceal assets from your spouse could reflect negatively on you in the judge’s eyes. Moreover, depositions are held under oath, so you could be subject to prosecution for perjury if you make false statements to a court reporter (Texas Penal Code Sec. 37.02).

Refusing to Negotiate

Even if your marriage ended on less-than-friendly terms, cooperating with your spouse can pay dividends in the long term. Compared to a full divorce trial, settling outside of court typically saves a significant amount of money. Additionally, you and your spouse can set the terms of your divorce through a settlement, as opposed to leaving the decisions to a judge (though the judge must still give final approval to a proposed divorce decree).

Too many spouses forego negotiations to pursue a personal vendetta. While it may be satisfying in the moment, proceeding hastily to litigation can hurt you more than your ex.

Contact a Denton County, TX Divorce Lawyer

At The Law Office of Linda Risinger, we have witnessed all kinds of divorces and we are confident we can help with yours. To schedule a free initial consultation with our Denton, TX family law attorneys, call our offices at 972-294-6533 today.