As a Family Law practioner, I am genuinely surprised at how few people actually read their Settlement Agreement (or even know where to find it) after they are divorced. Human nature being what it is, I suspect that many people are so glad to finally be done with their divorce proceedings that they are reluctant to read the product of such a tumultuous time in their lives. While I can understand that, it can be a costly mistake for some people. No matter how good your memory is, it is very unlikely that you will recall every aspect of your Agreement or what was negotiated between you.
That means that you could very well be missing out on some key points to your Agreement, such as a Cost of Living Adjustment on your child support or the alternating of holidays for your parenting time arrangement. There may be an exchange of documents or additional monies owed to you that you have forgotten about. It may seem unlikely to you, but it could very well happen if you bury the Agreement away, never to look at it again.
In order to avoid missing an important piece of your Agreement, it is recommended that you set an anniversary date for yourself, perhaps the date of the divorce itself. Take the opportunity to re-read your Agreement and make sure that you understand it and that you have not missed something that you might be entitled to. Not enforcing your Agreement in a timely fashion could be a very costly mistake which an experienced Family Law practioner can tell you more about. Posted by Elizabeth A. Calandrillo, Esq.
