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Divorce is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through. Emotions run high, the stakes are real, and decisions made in the heat of the moment can follow you for years. As family law attorneys, we've seen well-meaning people make avoidable mistakes that cost them time, money, and outcomes they cared about deeply.
Here are five things you should never do during a divorce — at least not without talking to your lawyer first.
1. Post on Social Media
It feels harmless. A venting post. A vacation photo. A night out with friends. But during a divorce, social media is essentially a public deposition you're giving without a lawyer in the room.
Screenshots don't lie, and opposing counsel knows it. That photo of your beach trip can undercut claims about your finances. A post about a night out can be used to question your parenting. Even a comment you "liked" can be pulled into evidence. And it's not just your accounts — friends tagging you, check-ins, and background details in photos all become fair game.
The safest rule: treat every post as if the judge will see it. Better yet, go dark until the case is resolved.
2. Hide or Move Assets
This one can turn a difficult divorce into a catastrophic one. Transferring money to a family member's account, quietly selling property, underreporting income, or draining joint accounts before your spouse notices — these are all forms of financial misconduct that courts take seriously.
Judges have seen every trick in the book. Forensic accountants exist specifically to find what people try to hide. And when a judge discovers concealment — and they often do — it doesn't just affect the asset at issue. It damages your credibility across the entire case.
Texas requires both parties to disclose their finances fully and honestly. Violating that obligation doesn't just hurt your case. It can expose you to sanctions, contempt findings, and potentially criminal liability. Transparency is always the better strategy.
3. Badmouth Your Spouse to Your Kids
We understand the impulse. You're hurt, you're angry, and your kids are right there. But putting your children in the middle of your conflict is one of the most damaging things you can do — for them and for your case.
Courts evaluate which parent is more likely to support a healthy, ongoing relationship between the child and the other parent. A parent who criticizes, demeans, or undermines the other in front of the kids raises immediate red flags for judges and custody evaluators. It can shift custody arrangements, limit your parenting time, and — most importantly — cause real, lasting harm to your children.
Your kids love both of their parents. Protect that, even when it's hard.
4. Move Out of the Marital Home Without a Plan
Leaving the house to get some space seems reasonable. And sometimes it is. But doing it without legal guidance can create serious problems you didn't anticipate.
Depending on how the move is handled, vacating the home can affect your property rights, signal to the court that you've ceded the residence, or — in cases involving children — be interpreted as stepping back from your role as a primary caregiver. In Texas, there may also be implications for exclusive use of the home during the pendency of the divorce.
This doesn't mean you should stay in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation. It means you should talk to your attorney before you go. A few days of planning can prevent months of legal complications.
5. Make Decisions Based on Emotions, Not Strategy
Divorce can make people want to fight — for the house they don't really need, against a settlement that's actually fair, or just to make things harder for the other side. It's human. But it's expensive, and it rarely produces the outcomes people are hoping for.
Some of the worst outcomes we've seen came not from bad facts, but from good people who let anger or pride drive their decisions. Refusing a reasonable offer out of spite. Escalating conflict over minor issues. Losing sight of what actually matters — especially when children are involved.
Your attorney's job is to help you make strategic decisions, not emotional ones. That doesn't mean your feelings don't matter. It means the courtroom is not the place to process them. Lean on your support system, consider a counselor, and let your legal team help you stay focused on the things that will matter most when this is over.
Talk to a Lawyer Before You Act
Every divorce is different, and the right move in one situation may be the wrong one in another. Before you make any major decision — financial, residential, or otherwise — check with your attorney. That conversation could save you from a mistake that's very difficult to undo.
If you have questions about your divorce, we're here to help. Contact Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers, to schedule a consultation.