I Just Want It Over! Why Rushing a Divorce is a Big Mistake~ 4 min read
Moving quickly through a divorce may seem appealing, but making major decisions without fully understanding the long-term consequences could cost you financially, affect the time you spend with your children, and create problems that do not become apparent until years later.
Why People Want to Finish a Divorce Quickly
When you are ready to move on with your life, it is natural to want the divorce process behind you. You may be emotionally exhausted, eager to end the conflict, and ready to focus on a new chapter in your life.
While those feelings are understandable, making decisions based solely on speeding up the divorce process can lead to outcomes you will later regret. Your divorce agreement will affect your finances, property, parenting arrangements, and future, long after your case is over.
Financial Decisions Deserve Careful Review
One of the biggest risks of rushing through a divorce is agreeing to a property settlement without fully understanding its impact. You may give up assets that you were entitled to or accept terms that are not in your long-term financial interest.
For example, keeping the marital home may sound like the best option during the divorce. However, if the home becomes unaffordable, you could find yourself selling it a year later and paying expenses that might have been avoided if the property had been addressed differently during the divorce.
Parenting Decisions Have Lasting Effects
When you have children, custody and child support decisions require careful consideration. If you move too quickly, you could agree to a parenting schedule that does not reflect your family’s needs or gives you less parenting time than you expected.
Child support also deserves careful review. If support is calculated using incomplete financial information or important expenses such as health insurance, childcare, or extracurricular activities, the final agreement may not provide the financial resources your children need. Taking the time to evaluate your options helps you make informed decisions instead of reacting to the stress of the moment.
Tax Consequences Are Easy to Overlook
Divorce decisions can also have significant tax implications. If you rush through the process, you can unknowingly create a taxable event or miss opportunities that could save money for you and your spouse.
In some situations, delaying the final divorce for a few months will allow you to file one final joint tax return that may be beneficial to your family. In other cases, adjusting how assets are divided may produce a better tax outcome for everyone involved.
Important Information May Be Missed
When your primary goal is to get it over, you may not provide your attorney with all the information needed to properly evaluate your case. You may also miss opportunities to ask questions that would help you understand the consequences of certain decisions.
A rushed agreement can result in your discovering mistakes months or even years later. By then, correcting those mistakes may be difficult, expensive, or impossible.
Taking Your Time Will Save Money
Slowing down does not mean creating unnecessary delays. It means taking the time to review your options, understand the financial impact of your decisions, and make choices that support your future.
A thoughtful divorce process allows you to identify opportunities, avoid costly mistakes, and create an agreement that works for you long after the divorce is finalized.
Contact Family Ally
Before you agree to a divorce settlement, make sure you understand how your decisions will affect your finances, taxes, property, and parenting arrangements. At Family Ally, we help you evaluate your options and make informed choices that support your long-term goals. Contact Jennifer Piper at 314-449-9800 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Family Ally is located at 130 S. Bemiston Ave., Suite 608, St. Louis, MO 63105.
FAQs
Why is rushing through a divorce risky?
Rushing through a divorce can lead to poor decisions regarding property division, custody, child support, and taxes. Some mistakes may not become apparent until months or years after the divorce is finalized.
Can delaying a divorce ever save money?
Yes. In some situations, delaying the final divorce can create tax advantages, allow for better financial planning, or help you structure asset division in a more beneficial way.
What should I consider before agreeing to a divorce settlement?
You should understand how the agreement affects your finances, property, taxes, parenting time, child support obligations, and future living expenses before making any final decisions.
Jennifer R. Piper is a family law attorney, mediator, and parenting coordinator with more than 20 years of experience serving families in the St. Louis area. She is certified as a Guardian ad Litem and frequently appointed by courts to represent children in high-conflict cases. Jennifer is a former Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and an active leader in local and state bar organizations.
Her professional recognition includes being named to The Best Lawyers in America® (2017–2025), Missouri Super Lawyers (2021–2024), and receiving a Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Jennifer also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She regularly speaks on family law topics and has helped shape family court procedures through her service on multiple committees.
