Although most divorces are settled outside of court, the possibility that a judge will decide one or more of the issues in your divorce is almost always present. Because of this, you must consider your actions during the divorce in light of how they might affect you in court. People with knowledge of your personal life may become witnesses in court, especially if you are involved in a custody trial. It is to your great advantage to present yourself carefully in front of these potential witnesses.
One spouse may be having trouble keeping cool under the stress of divorce. To someone with a limited view of that person’s parenting, he or she may seem impatient and easy to anger. The other spouse may be intentionally working overtime on appearing to be the perfect parent in order to gain advantage in the custody case. Someone witnessing the family over this period may certainly have a distorted view of events, but could be an effective witness for one side in court. It is unfortunate, but you need to remember that you may be “under the microscope” during the divorce process, so do what you can to create a positive impression of yourself.
Because the people with some knowledge of your personal life might be witnesses in court, you need to avoid creating enemies while the divorce is ongoing. Firing the nanny or housekeeper could create an enemy who is more than happy to speak out on behalf of your spouse. Rather than engendering animosity, you will want to be cultivating positive relationships with those who interact with or simply observe your family.
