How Can I Keep My Divorce from Turning Into a Battle?
Divorce does not have to become a battle fought in a courtroom. Most families resolve their divorce outside of court through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative divorce. These divorce processes give you more control over the outcome, reduce unnecessary costs, and help protect your children from the harmful effects of ongoing conflict.
Divorce Does Not Have to Be a Fight
You may hear people describe divorce as a war, but that approach creates more problems than it resolves. In reality, most divorces are resolved without a courtroom battle.
Conflict grows when expectations are unrealistic or when one spouse is focused on getting even for past hurt. That can result in disputes that will increase costs, delay resolution, and damage relationships that still matter, especially when you have children.
When your divorce turns into a courtroom fight, you give up control over the outcome. A judge who does not know your family will make decisions that affect your finances, time with your children, and your future.
You have better options for how to divorce. You can choose to work toward a resolution that is private, respectful, and focused on what comes next in your life.
In most cases, court is not the starting point. Families are encouraged or required to attempt resolutions outside of trial through negotiation, mediation, or Collaborative Divorce, processes that are focused on settlement. Choosing to work through issues early will save time, reduce expenses, and keep personal matters out of the public record.
Understanding Your Options Outside of Court
Many people have heard of mediation. It is a divorce process that allows you and your spouse to work with a neutral professional/mediator to negotiate agreements together, rather than having decisions made for you by a judge.
In the Collaborative Divorce process, you and your spouse work with specially trained Collaborative attorneys along with neutral divorce professionals such as a financial expert and/or a mental health professional. Everyone involved commits to resolving issues respectfully and creatively outside of court. You may also resolve issues through direct negotiations. These divorce processes give you more control over the outcome. You decide what works for your family instead of empowering a judge to determine your future and the future of your children.
While resolving things this way may take patience, it allows you to move forward with a plan that fits your life.
How Your Divorce Conflict Affects Your Children
Ongoing conflict between parents tends to have a deeper and longer-lasting impact. Children are exposed to what they hear and see, and they may not understand the full situation which can affect how they view relationships and how they relate to each parent. Children should never be casualties of a divorce war.
Choosing a Better Path Forward
You have more control over your divorce than you might think. By focusing on cooperation instead of conflict, you can protect your privacy, reduce unnecessary expenses, agree to settlement terms that are agreeable to you and your spouse, and create a healthier environment for your children.
Contact the Law Offices of Law Offices of Robert J. Merlin
How you handle your divorce can shape what life looks like for you and your children moving forward. The Law Offices of Robert J. Merlin focus on helping families resolve matters privately and respectfully. To schedule a consultation, call Robert Merlin at (305) 448-1555 or contact us online.
The Law Offices of Robert J. Merlin, P.A. are located at 250 Catalonia Ave., Suite 706, Coral Gables, Florida 33134.
FAQs
1. Do children always struggle when their parents divorce?
Divorce is emotional for children, especially with changes to routines and living arrangements. However, by reducing conflict and maintaining clear, supportive communication you can help them adjust in a healthier way.
2. Is mediation required before going to trial in Florida?
In many cases, yes. Courts usually expect you to attempt resolution before scheduling a trial.
3. What affects children the most during divorce?
While divorce itself can be emotional, ongoing conflict between parents tends to have the greatest impact on children.
Bob Merlin is a Florida Bar Board Certified Family Law Specialist, he practices in the areas of divorce, time-sharing of children and parenting plans, child support, alimony, paternity, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and cohabitation/partnership agreements.
As an experienced Collaborative attorney, Bob continually hones his skills in the Collaborative Process and trains other professionals how to become a Collaborative professional as he is.
“My goal is to help divorcing and other family law clients make well-informed decisions so they experience a more efficient process and feel more in control over their futures.”
