If your marriage is on track for an inevitable divorce, you may have some difficulty communicating with your husband or wife. You may also not know whether he or she wants a knock-down, drag-out divorce battle or is open to something less brutal.
While asking your spouse is usually best, you can also look for certain clues to gauge your spouse’s receptiveness to mediation, arbitration or negotiation. Here are three signs your soon-to-be ex-spouse may want a friendly divorce.
1. The children
Divorce is rarely easy for anyone in the family. Still, if you and your spouse have a protracted or bitter court battle, your children may suffer. Parents who want to put the kids first often opt for a collaborative divorce.
By approaching your divorce in a collaborative way, you model kindness, cooperation and stability that may help the young ones in your family better cope.
2. Future finances
When you end your marriage, you must divide marital assets and debts. Any expenses your spouse incurs may affect his or her financial future.
Put simply, if your spouse cares about finances, a friendly divorce may be the right approach. While mediation and other types of collaborative divorce are not free of charge, they are often considerably less expensive than a conventional divorce.
3. Personal growth
If your marriage is on the rocks because of infidelity, abuse, or deception, you may have a hard time convincing your husband or wife to agree to a friendly divorce.
On the other hand, if the two of you have simply grown apart, your spouse may be ready to commit to a friendly divorce or at least explore the possibility of one.
