Divorce is usually overwhelming, uncertain, and confusing. If not handled well the divorce process can be a recipe for disaster. How you handle your divorce will impact not only you, your spouse and children, but also your community of friends and family. By taking positive steps you can navigate the divorce in a way that supports and empowers you.
In this blog posting Debra Synovec offers some recommendations to lead you to the finish line and to a healthier divorce.
- Slow down and breathe
- Exercise a businesslike approach
- Research process options
- Be educated about your finances
- Realize you are in charge
- Define goals and objectives
- Take good care of yourself
- Do not blame
- Build confidence
- Be responsible
“I am going to take you to court!”
Not so fast. Though going to court can be the answer you need to reach a divorce settlement, it is not the only answer. Despite how advantageous litigating your case may seem, going to trial should be considered a last resort after you have resolved all other alternatives. And there are alternatives, some of which are more effective than others.
In this article Vikki Zeigler writes why the alternative dispute resolution she prefers most is mediation. Mediation takes place outside the courtroom. A neutral third party called a mediator listens to both sides and makes suggestions as to how the divorcing couple can find a solid middle ground. The mediator is familiar with issues relating to divorce and skilled at coming up with creative solutions which will lead a disputing couple to an agreement.
If you or someone you know could benefit from assistance in decision making during a divorce, contact Falmouth Mediation at 508-566-4159 for a free, no-obligation, private, confidential consultation. We will be happy to discuss the key details of your situation, address any concerns, and help you decide if divorce mediation would be beneficial.
What do people in business do when they’re facing a crisis? They ask, “What’s the best practice to follow in a situation like this? What do successful companies do?”
As Howard Irving writes, our society would benefit greatly if divorcing parents could be convinced to ask, “What’s the best practice now that our marriage is over? What have others done in our situation? What dangers should we avoid? What path should we take?”
Of course a marriage is not a business. Its end is more often marked by regret, anger, and revenge than by the ability to ask wise, logical questions. However, we in the West have had enough experience with divorce to know that there definitely is a best practice for divorcing parents to follow.
It’s called mediation, a voluntary process with an impartial third party, a family mediator. The mediator helps couples identify, clarify, and come to an agreement on the major issues between the parents for the sake of the children. Each parent retains a lawyer during this process, but the goal of everyone involved is to avoid the emotional and financial costs of pursuing divorce through the adversary court system.
