It is no secret that divorce is an unpleasant process. In fact, it is consistently ranked as one of life’s most stressful experiences. While there really is not a way to remove all of the stress and challenges from the divorce process, there are steps that you can take that may make the process a little less difficult for everyone involved.
When it comes to divorce, there are two basic types – uncontested divorce and contested divorce. In an uncontested divorce, couples agree on the important terms of the divorce settlement. This can include aspects like asset division, child custody, and support obligations like child support and/or spousal support. When couples cannot agree on the terms of a divorce settlement, they may face a contested divorce.
Be Open to Negotiation
Negotiation plays an important role in the divorce process, especially if one of your goals is to avoid the time and expense of a contested divorce. Working with an experienced Florida divorce attorney can be an important part of how you approach the negotiation process. An experienced divorce lawyer understands important nuances in the law and how that may apply to your circumstances.
Working closely with an experienced lawyer can also help you establish clear goals for the negotiation process. When you have more clarity on what is especially important to you, you may have a lot more options that open up for you throughout the negotiation process.
Be Thorough
While a thorough approach to the divorce process in general is an important part of navigating divorce, being thorough in the details of your divorce settlement is also extremely important. There should not be any loose ends in your settlement.
In other words, you need to make sure that you consider important aspects of the divorce settlement throughout the negotiation process. This includes things like division of assets, but do not forget that it also includes division of debts. You will likely need to do a great deal of future planning so that you can better understand how these decisions will affect you down the line. The more detailed you are and the clearer the terms of the settlement, the better it is for everyone involved both during the divorce process and after.
Listen
It is important to listen throughout the divorce process. If you have put in the time and energy to work with your lawyer to develop clear goals, you probably want your spouse to listen to those goals. That means you need to be prepared to do the same thing, and that may be easier said than done. A lot of times, people stop listening and dig their feet into the ground instead. This can slow down the process and if that process stalls, you may face a contested divorce in which a court will make important decisions for you.
Remain Civil
Divorce can stir up a lot of emotions. While having a wide variety of emotions during the divorce process is perfectly normal, making sure you can process and handle those emotions effectively is extremely important.
The more cooperative and civil you and your spouse are able to be to each other, the easier negotiation and other important stages of divorce will be for everyone. Of course, communication is not always easy when it comes to divorce. That is why working with an experienced divorce lawyer who can advocate for your rights is an important part of the divorce process, even if the divorce is uncontested.
Work with Professionals
Divorce impacts all areas of your life. The decisions you make during the divorce process will have immediate and long-term effects, and understanding that impact is an important part of making informed choices during a divorce.
Depending on the complexity of your divorce, you may want to consider working with financial professionals to get a better insight into how the terms of your potential divorce settlement will impact you now and into the future. There may also be important tax consequences that a tax expert can help you understand to better inform your approach to the divorce.
If you have children, working with specialists who understand the impact divorce may have on children could be an effective way to make the divorce process easier on your child. You may even want to consider working with professionals who understand the emotional impact divorce can often have so that you can overcome emotional obstacles and challenges that you are likely to face.
Exploring Your Options
It is unlikely that you will get a divorce settlement that grants you everything you want. Divorce is a process that involves a good deal of negotiation, and approaching it realistically knowing that you will have to participate in the give and take may help you set clear goals. Clear goals can help you, your spouse, and your lawyer work together to finalize a divorce settlement that is acceptable to all parties. In the long run, that can save you a great deal of time and money. It can also make the divorce process a little easier for everyone involved.
While striving for an uncontested divorce might be an important goal, it may not always be an option. Sometimes, no amount of effort is enough to overcome the obstacles standing in the way of an uncontested divorce, and that is OK. Part of the divorce process is understanding your options and knowing how to explore them. Whether you are facing a contested or uncontested divorce, contact Scott J. Stadler to schedule a consultation and find out more information about what the divorce process may mean for you.