Divorce has a reputation for being a disruptive and stressful process. Even spouses who agree that ending a marriage is the right choice may find themselves fighting and struggling to navigate the process gracefully. Small emotional reactions can snowball into major disputes.
Spouses may end up damaging their relationship with each other and possibly other critical social relationships because of how they behave during divorce. They may also extend how long it takes to resolve divorce disputes and increase how much they pay for the divorce because of the choices that they make.
Yet, there are ways for people to reduce the tension and friction during a divorce. The three tips outlined below can help people navigate the divorce process more gracefully.
Get prepared ahead of time
Issues related to financial disclosures and document sharing can quickly complicate divorce proceedings. Once spouses initiate the process, they may both feel anxious about providing various documents to one another. Spouses intending to file for divorce can prepare ahead of time by gathering critical records. Income records, tax returns and other key financial records can pave the way for a smoother divorce process.
Learn about state law
Unrealistic divorce expectations can complicate negotiations. People may latch on to exaggerated or fabricated stories about one parent securing sole custody or one spouse retaining a disproportionate amount of the marital estate. They may then try to push for imbalanced and unreasonable terms during the divorce. Not only are they likely to end up disappointed, but they may spend a lot of time and effort fighting for terms that the courts are unlikely to ever grant. Learning about the rules that govern divorce can help people establish appropriate expectations, which can make it easier to negotiate a divorce settlement.
Explore alternative dispute resolution
Divorce mediation has gone from a relatively niche option to a common choice. Many spouses now recognize that cooperating is a better option than fighting as they try to resolve their divorce matters. Agreeing to attend mediation can help spouses control the cost of divorce and prioritize setting terms that matter the most to them.
Those hoping to divorce with minimal conflict may need legal support as they learn about the process and negotiate with their spouses. Staying focused on the big picture can often help people avoid scenarios in which they get bogged down by emotional reactions and make questionable choices during divorce proceedings.