There’s nothing wrong with a quick and friendly divorce, if both parties are clear-headed, transparent, and genuinely ready. But rushing the legal process rarely helps end emotional pain. In fact, speeding through it often creates more stress, more fights, and more bills later on.
Here are six reasons not to rush your divorce:
1. Hidden Assets
Quick divorces can mean sloppy financial disclosures. If one spouse is hiding money or undervaluing assets, a rushed process lets them get away with it. Later, if hidden accounts, bonuses, or retirement funds come to light, you’ll have to reopen the case, an expensive and stressful process.
If one spouse is hiding assets or undervaluing what they own, a rushed process is the perfect cover. Maybe it’s an unreported bonus, a stock account you didn’t know about, or a retirement fund you weren’t told existed. Maybe it’s undervaluing a business or conveniently “forgetting” a piece of property. In a fast-tracked divorce, those details slip through the cracks. And once the ink is dry, it’s incredibly difficult — and costly — to fix.
I’ve seen it happen: years later, hidden accounts or undisclosed investments come to light. By then, the only way to address it is to reopen the case, hire lawyers again, and fight it out in court. Not only is that stressful, but it often costs far more than taking the time to do it right in the first place.
Yes, a thorough financial review may feel slow, tedious, or even frustrating when you’re emotionally ready to be done. But it’s also the safety net that ensures you don’t leave money on the table that you are legally entitled to. A patient, careful process helps uncover assets, confirm valuations, and protect your financial future.
The bottom line? Divorce isn’t just the end of a relationship, it’s the division of a financial partnership. Rushing through disclosures might save a few months now, but it can cost you years of regret later. Take the time. Ask the questions. Insist on transparency. Because once you sign, you can’t un-sign.
2. Bad Financial Decisions
“This is taking too long! I can’t stand it anymore,” my client told me (we’ll call him “Ben”). After just two months of negotiations, Ben was ready to sign anything just to be done. The constant emails, the back-and-forth over money, the emotional toll; it was all wearing him down. His offer on the table? Pay his wife’s rent indefinitely, just so the case could end.
On the surface, it seemed like a shortcut to peace. No more fighting, no more paperwork. Just write the check and walk away. But quick fixes in divorce usually come with long-term consequences.
“Fine,” I said. “But what happens if she gets a boyfriend, or moves to Trump Tower?” He laughed, but the point landed. Divorce agreements are binding. Once you sign, you’re locked in. And locking yourself into paying someone else’s rent — without any limits, conditions, or end date — is a mistake you don’t get to take back.
Sure enough, months later, his ex had a live-in boyfriend. Had Ben signed that deal, he would have been funding their apartment indefinitely. Instead, because he took a breath and slowed the process down, he avoided years of resentment and financial drain. As Ben told me later with relief: “Let him pay for it.”
Divorce fatigue is real. The process is stressful, emotional, and draining. It’s natural to want it over with as quickly as possible. But financial decisions in divorce are permanent. Once a deal is signed, there are no “do-overs” when life changes, new partners, new jobs, new homes.
💡 Tip: Take your time. A few extra days or weeks of patience can save you years of regret. Don’t let exhaustion push you into a bad bargain. The ink may dry quickly, but the consequences will last for years.
3. Delayed Fighting
A client, I’ll call her “Judith,” thought she had won. Her husband “Brian” had cheated, including with her best friend, and out of guilt, he agreed to a settlement that gave Judith nearly everything she wanted. On paper, it looked like closure.
But Judith wasn’t actually “over it.” She kept firing off angry texts to Brian and his new girlfriend. Within months, he was back in court claiming the deal was unfair, and she responded with fresh allegations. The papers were signed, but the fight was far from finished.
The truth is, a rushed agreement rarely ends the conflict. If one person signs out of guilt or the other out of anger, resentment lingers. And in family law, resentment almost always means more litigation.
💡 Takeaway: Don’t confuse a fast deal with a fair or final one. Divorce isn’t just legal paperwork: it’s emotional work, too. If that part isn’t resolved, the courtroom door will stay open.
4. Extended Living Together
“Marjory” was thrilled when her husband agreed to all her terms, but he said he agreed only so long as he could stay in the apartment for another eight months. She thought it would help the kids adjust and she could deal with him on the sofa, sure, why not? Instead, it created chaos. He snooped through her things, sent mixed signals about reconciling, and dragged his feet about moving out.
The divorce was final, but the separation hadn’t even started. Their living arrangement only fueled new fights and dragged them back into court. Delaying the actual separation only delayed their ability to move beyond the breakup, leading to more drama and expense.
💡 Tip: Don’t agree to live together after the divorce. It only delays healing and invites conflict.
5. Custody Complications
When custody gets rushed, kids suffer. Parents sometimes agree to vague, “for now” schedules just to get the papers signed, hoping they’ll sort out the details later. But later often comes with bigger problems: new schools, changing jobs, and new partners entering the picture. Suddenly, that temporary schedule doesn’t work anymore, and the children are caught in the middle of constant conflict.
The problem is that once a schedule is in place, courts are reluctant to make big changes. Judges often prefer stability for the kids, which means they’re more likely to stick with the status quo. So if you rushed into an arrangement that doesn’t reflect real life, like impossible pickup times, unrealistic travel demands, or a lack of flexibility; it’s an uphill battle to get it fixed. By the time you’re back in court, months of tension and confusion have already taken their toll on your children.
That’s why it pays to slow down. A realistic parenting plan should cover not just the day-to-day logistics but also school schedules, extracurriculars, holidays, and even how parents will handle disagreements in the future. It should account for distance between homes, the children’s ages, and the fact that kids’ needs change as they grow.
Yes, it takes more time and energy to negotiate those details up front. But the investment pays off in the long run: fewer trips back to court, less stress on your kids, and a plan that actually works for your family.
The takeaway? It’s always harder to undo a bad custody schedule than it is to build a thoughtful one from the start. Take the time now, because your kids deserve more than a “for now” plan.
6. Double Legal Fees
“Jennifer” thought my price was too high. She and her husband went to a discount “divorce mill” in another county that promised a cheap divorce in under a month. Papers were filed, but her husband refused to move out, and worse, he made inappropriate advances. One night, things escalated, the police were called, and Jennifer ended up arrested with a restraining order keeping her out of her home.
We had to scramble to transfer the case and file emergency motions so she could see her son. In the end, she paid the discount firm and me, twice the fees, twice the stress. “If I had only paid you the first time, you wouldn’t have left these loose ends,” she said.
I’ve had to fix a number of divorce filings for other clients due to errors or missed information from a discount divorce dealer. And sometimes, when things are overlooked, court fights are even more stressful.
Lesson learned: a “cheap” divorce is rarely cheap.
Bottom Line: Divorce isn’t a race. Taking the time to negotiate carefully, review finances, and process emotions will cost less in the long run, both financially and emotionally.
Did you (or someone you know) rush parts of a divorce that later blew up? Share your story in the comments.
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The Divorce Artist™️ 