The internet is full of helpful information. It’s also full of total garbage. And when it comes to divorce, there’s no shortage of bad advice from anonymous Reddit posters, TikTok creators with no credentials, or your cousin’s best friend’s dog walker who “went through the same thing.”

So let’s clear the air.

Here are five pieces of divorce advice that’ll wreck your case faster than your ex’s new relationship status went live:

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1. “Just stop letting them see the kids until they pay child support.”

That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.

Parenting time and child support are separate legal issues. Denying visits because of unpaid support can land you in contempt, even if your frustration is valid.

If they’re behind, file to enforce the order—but don’t take matters into your own hands unless you’re ready to explain it to a judge who won’t be impressed.

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2. “Your kid’s 12 now—they can just decide who to live with.”

See my earlier post on this. Short version: they can express a preference—not make the decision.

If judges let every preteen dictate custody, parenting plans would become a hostage situation. Courts look at a lot more than a kid’s wish list when deciding what’s best.

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3. “You don’t need a lawyer. It’s just paperwork.”

This one’s a classic.

Look, if you’re dividing a Netflix password and a used loveseat, maybe you can DIY it. But if you’ve got kids, real estate, debt, retirement accounts—or a spouse who “just wants to be fair” while secretly moving assets—then yeah, you might want some backup.

It’s just paperwork the same way a plane is just bolts and metal. Until it crashes.

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4. “Say whatever you need to get custody—you can always walk it back later.”

Lying to the court is a great way to tank your credibility and lose everything you’re fighting for. Family court judges are not new to the rodeo—they’ve heard every excuse, seen every game, and they don’t reward people for playing dirty.

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5. “Post it online—let the world know what they did.”

No. Stop.

Social media may feel like your personal therapy couch, but the judge is watching—and so is the other side’s lawyer. Screenshots don’t disappear, and those passive-aggressive memes about “some people” not showing up for their kids can (and will) be Exhibit A.

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Lawyer Bill’s Advice

Divorce already puts your future, your finances, and your kids on the line—don’t stack the odds against yourself by following advice from someone who’s never set foot in a courtroom.

If you’re tempted to take a shortcut, slow down. If someone online says “trust me,” don’t.

And if your gut says “this feels off,” there’s a reason.

You only get one chance to do this right. Handle it like it matters—because it does.