Here are some examples of the worst advice you could ever get about using a New York State divorce calculator:

1. "Trust the calculator completely without verifying the numbers."  

 Why it's bad: Divorce calculators provide estimates, not legally binding calculations. They don’t account for unique circumstances like prenuptial agreements or complex financial assets. Blindly relying on them could lead to unrealistic expectations.

2. The statement "use calculator to settle everything" is problematic as calculators cannot replace professional legal advice, as divorce involves complex legal, financial, and custody issues that calculators cannot address.

3. Incorrect or incomplete inputs can lead to inaccurate results, such as incorrect income or marriage duration, which can skew spousal and child support estimates.

4. "You can use the New York State Divorce Calculator even if your financial situation is highly complicated."  

 Why it's bad: If your finances involve assets like businesses, stock options, or offshore accounts, the calculator won’t be able to handle these complexities. You’ll need tailored legal advice.

5. The statement "results are the same regardless of county or judge" is problematic as uniform guidelines in New York State, judicial discretion, and local practices can influence outcomes.

 6. A calculator's functionality is limited by its inability to accurately represent custody arrangements like shared or split custody, or extraordinary expenses.

 7. The calculator's claim to save marriage settlements from disputes is misleading as it doesn't resolve emotional, relational, or subjective disagreements, but rather focuses on numbers.

 8. Free calculators may oversimplify calculations and lack precision or comprehensive input fields of professional-grade software, making them just as good as paid or professional tools.

 9. The advice to use someone else's inputs as a reference for your case is problematic as divorce outcomes are highly individualized and may not apply to your specific circumstances.

 10. Financial information should not be updated as divorce calculations are sensitive to income, assets, and expenses, leading to inaccurate results and potentially impacting negotiations or court rulings.

 11. Divorce calculators, despite their potential to automatically detect hidden assets or income, rely on user input and are not equipped to detect financial misrepresentation or hidden income.

 12. The calculator should be used once during the divorce process to ensure accurate estimates, as divorce settlements change with new financial and custody information. Regular updates are crucial.

 13. Child support estimates should include special expenses like childcare, medical needs, or extracurricular activities to accurately estimate child support obligations and avoid skewing results.

 14. A calculator's output won't magically convince your ex-spouse or their attorney in divorce negotiations, as emotions, legal arguments, and unique circumstances are involved.

 15. The statement "all calculators are created equal" is misleading as not all divorce calculators are tailored to New York State's specific laws, potentially leading to inaccurate results due to differing legal guidelines.

 16. Rounding off numbers is acceptable in divorce calculations, but it can lead to discrepancies that may cause disputes or New York State Divorce Court corrections, as exact numbers are crucial for income, expenses, and assets.

 17. Skipping input fields like health insurance costs or education expenses can lead to incomplete and misleading results, as every input field has a purpose.

 18. Calculators offer a starting point but do not address legal arguments, documentation, or negotiation strategies crucial in mediation or court hearings, making them unsuitable for preparation.

 19. The calculator's ability to predict alimony durations accurately is problematic as judges often consider unique factors like employability or marital contributions when determining alimony duration.

 20. The statement "tweak numbers to look better" is harmful as it undermines the purpose of using calculators and can lead to unrealistic expectations during negotiations.

 21. The statement "you don't need to understand legal guidelines; the calculator does it for you" is misleading as understanding legal guidelines is crucial for interpreting results and advocating for a fair settlement.

 22. Divorce impacts taxes, retirement accounts, and long-term financial plans, and calculators lack holistic advice or tax strategies, making them a potential replacement for financial planners and tax advisors.

 23. Divorce often involves exploring multiple settlement scenarios, but choosing one outcome can help understand the impact of various factors on your case.

 24. Divorce calculators often focus on income and support payments, neglecting the division of debts, which can significantly impact your financial future, making them unsuitable for divorce calculations.

 25. Courts and mediators consider fairness, legal guidelines, and individual circumstances when making decisions, and a calculator's output doesn't guarantee a win in child support or alimony cases.

By recognizing these flawed approaches, you can better navigate the complexities of divorce calculations and use the tool responsibly.