Why Should I Hire a Divorce Attorney?
When a marriage ends, partners and their children often face a stressful upheaval in their lives. There can be new living arrangements, re-established parenting schedules, and of course, decisions to be made about money and property. Here are some tips that can help to ensure you have the right expectations to make your divorce as speedy and successful as possible.
Don’t Make an Important Decision Without Thinking It Through
A divorce proceeding triggers many life-changing decisions. It’s important to resist the impulse to make quick decisions just to get the case over with. Impulsive decisions can potentially lead to unwanted and long-lasting consequences.
Prepare for the Future
Hanging on to the past and rehashing all the events that got you and your spouse to this point may only prevent you from moving on with your life and making decisions that are in the family’s best interests. Focus on the future and make the best of this temporary hurdle. Approach the divorce with a readiness to work with your partner to achieve the most favorable outcome for your family.
Look at the “Big Picture”
You may be apt to get hung up on matters that are relatively insignificant in the scheme of things. When past hurts arise, it may be comfortable and convenient to fall into blame and contentiousness and obsess about the little things. Unfortunately, this approach can increase the time it takes to complete the divorce.
Try to be a “big-picture” thinker and don’t sweat the small stuff. Your attorney can guide and help you to make some concessions on the minor issues so you can spend more time on the most significant matters, such as maintaining your relationships with your children.
Be Mindful About the Children’s Feelings
Many couples get wrapped up in the heat of the moment. However, cruel words and accusations said in front of children can have a lasting effect on their mental and emotional well-being. Although it may take some conscious self-control, give yourself some time to think before you speak.
Your children will likely continue to have a relationship with their other parent unless there’s a history of neglect or abuse. No matter what your personal feelings are for your spouse, you should probably not try to interfere with a healthy parent-child relationship.
Divorce Isn’t Only About Winning
There’s seldom a real winner in divorce cases. The typical divorce involves numerous issues, and rarely do partners end up with everything they want when a marriage ends. You may want to consider the consequences of a full-blown court case before going down that road. Long, drawn-out divorce proceedings are costly to both your finances and the effects they have on children and family.
Seek the Counsel of an Experienced Attorney
Understanding and navigating the legal process of divorce can add even more even strain to an already tense situation and may impair your ability to make sound decisions in your own best interests. Having experienced counsel on your side can make all the difference. Schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable divorce attorney to find out more.