Divorcing spouses aren’t always looking for a fight and dramatic courtroom resolutions. In fact, many people would prefer to make a divorce as quick and painless as possible so that they can focus on the future.
In these situations, mediation and collaboration will be tools that allow two people to end their marriage and settle divorce-related matters more peacefully. However, the efficacy of these processes can be compromised when one or both parties make one of the following critical mistakes.
- Refusing to compromise: Part of keeping a divorce out of court is working together to find solutions. If someone is unwilling to compromise on issues like property division or child custody, then it may be impossible to resolve that matter outside of court.
- Not taking the process seriously: Alternative dispute resolutions like mediation are less formal than litigation. However, there are still numerous rules and requirements that parties must observe, and failing to do so could jeopardize the enforceability of any agreements parties might reach.
- Acting out outside of legal proceedings: People might be cooperative and amenable during legal meetings and hearings, but act out in potentially harmful ways once they leave. This might include talking negatively about the other party to the kids or on social media, or it could involve trying to hide assets or harassing the other party. These actions do have consequences, and that includes the potential for derailing an otherwise amicable divorce.
- Not understanding the roles: No matter what route you take to resolve your divorce, there will be parties playing different roles. This includes you, attorneys, mediators, judges and outside professionals assisting with financial or mental health matters. If you don’t know what each party does in your specific setting, then you can get confused and develop unrealistic expectations.
These and other mistakes can jeopardize cooperative efforts to resolve the various divorce-related matters, so it is crucial to avoid them. If you have questions or concerns about how to do this, you can consult an attorney.
Divorce is not easy, even when it is amicable. However, you can make it a little easier by avoiding costly missteps and utilizing the numerous resources available.
