In this blog and all throughout our website, we discuss the fact that divorce, while difficult, doesn’t have to be the legal battle many people expect. Of course there are cases where two people are angry, resentful, defensive and even vengeful, but there are also plenty of cases where people just want to respectfully separate and focus on the future.
These types of amicable divorces have seemingly become more common in recent years. We read about celebrities “consciously uncoupling” and laws being passed to favor shared parenting arrangements. Most recently, yet another indication of this respectful divorce trend went viral thanks to a photo of a former couple.
The photograph shows a man and woman outside a courthouse after filing for divorce. And they are smiling.
According to the woman in the picture who shared it on her Facebook page, she and her ex are smiling because they have chosen to pursue a collaborative, respectful divorce for the benefit of their future and their children. By taking a civil and thoughtful approach to the divorce, she says she and her husband will be able to continue being partners as parents and avoid the ugliness of a contentious divorce.
This approach may be very similar to the one you may be interested in if you are considering a divorce and that may ultimately help get through a divorce a little easier.
However, you should remember that divorce — whether it is amicable or not — is a legal process. Paperwork needs to be submitted, assets should be divided, child custody and support arrangements must be approved and spousal support may need to be ordered. For these reasons, it can be wise to have an attorney help you through the process.
Having legal counsel doesn’t mean you are gearing up for a fight. It can simply be a way to ensure everything is done properly and your rights are protected throughout the process. Discussing your intention to pursue a civil divorce with an attorney who appreciates and understands collaborative divorce can be the best way to get started.
Source: The Huffington Post, “This Couple’s Divorce Selfie Is Surprisingly Sweet,” Brittany Wong, Sept. 2, 2015
