While divorce may seem innately adversarial, the choices both parties make during that process determine its nature. Ultimately, a contentious proceeding does more harm than good, so working with an Orange County divorce mediation attorney to achieve a cordial divorce is essential. Here is what to do and not to do to reach a peaceful settlement.
Avoid Blame
We understand how easy it is for both parties to blame one another. However, achieving a cordial divorce often means that finger-pointing be kept to a minimum.
For example, many married couples start their marriage compatible, but their interests and goals change, and they simply drift apart. In worst case scenarios, infidelity or substance abuse may come into play. It’s understandably easy to want to direct anger at the spouse whose behavior may have triggered the divorce, but it’s rarely going to be helpful. No matter the reason, moving forward peacefully requires avoiding allocating blame.
An Orange County divorce mediation attorney can help both parties navigate this emotionally tumultuous period and emerge renewed and ready for the next chapter of their lives.
Think About the Big Picture
Cordial divorce requires communicating and sharing common goals and focusing on the bigger picture. We understand divorces are rife with insignificant details and issues that can still become irreconcilable points of contention.
Fighting over every little thing wreaks havoc on your divorce, eliminates any chance for an amicable settlement, and often results in an adversarial process that can drag out for months or even years, so picking your battles is essential.
We advise working with an Orange County divorce mediation attorney and outlining your shared and individual wants, needs, and non-negotiables. Ironing out these details is crucial to effective negotiations, especially if you will interact with your ex post-divorce.
Considering the desired outcomes is the only way to architect your future instead of reopening past wounds.
Prioritize the Children
When working with an Orange County divorce mediation attorney, children should always come first. Regardless of your issues, you will have to find ways to co-parent.
It is easy to let resentments obscure your judgment, but how you handle divorce impacts your children for their entire lives. Introducing a divorce mediation lawyer enables you to preserve your children’s stability and security and avoids having them suffer for their parent’s mistakes.
Always maintain the feeling of being a family because, at the end of the day, that is still what you are. This process is also an opportunity to demonstrate that people can persevere through challenges by leveraging respect, resilience, and cooperation.
Working with a mediation attorney, in particular, is important because it emphasizes reconstructing and enhancing relationships instead of destroying them, which is the lynchpin of an amicable divorce.
Proceed with Mutual Respect and Compassion
Maintaining mutual respect and compassion is critical to a cordial divorce. No matter why you are getting divorced, collaborating and understanding the other party’s perspective is imperative. Never enter with an ax to grind. We recommend you:
- Avoid pointing fingers.
- Avoid reacting impulsively to triggering communications.
- Maintain your composure even if your spouse does not.
- Discarding vindictive agreement terms.
- Avoiding bad-mouthing the other party to mutual friends or on social media.
- Actively listening.
To circumnavigate contentious negotiations, working with an Orange County divorce mediation attorney is essential.
Consult with an Orange County Divorce Attorney to Settle Peacefully and Get a Fresh Start for this New Chapter in your Life
Divorce is an emotional journey to endure. On top of the bitterness and anger which often result from a formal separation, the subsequent legal battles tend to make the whole process even more painful. At the Law Offices of Jennifer Owens, we revel in the power of choice. When spouses face divorce, they’re presented with a slew of decisions with a handful of potential outcomes. Our attorneys are believers in the best possible outcome, where a former couple chooses peace over destruction so that they can finally move on to their next chapter. We can help with that. No matter your desired path – divorce mediation, a negotiated settlement, or even litigation – The Law Offices of Jennifer Owens will achieve the best possible outcome by reaching a settlement that keeps all involved parties in mind. Visit our website to review our family law services or contact us online for a free consultation.