1) Never agree to Alimony...Even if it is initially one dollar per year...Once it's in effect, it can be raised by the court on about any basis she presents...
2) Be a little more than generous with any child support, but insist on receipts for money spent on them...You are not paying for her support past what is required for the kids...Her new clothing/shoes do not equate to their second hand clothing shopping..
3) Don't fall into a "Guilt Trap" or you will wind up eating beans for the next however many years until the kids are 18 (or out of college)...Too many suicides in these cases are due to the ex-husband/father not being able to see a light at the end of the tunnel from an expense standpoint..
4) If an attempt at manipulation is her wanting to meet you at some 'out of the way' place, always take a witness and don't go alone...I know of a couple of cases where the ex-wife committed, or attempted to commit, suicide and the husband was the primary suspect...
5) Insist on 'reasonable' child visitation if involved and stick to the agreed upon schedule, regardless of future hardship...Abandonment is hard for courts to understand, but easy for the custodial parent to claim...Any alternative conditions need to be approved by the court at the time of the finalization...Modifications can get expensive...
