Divorce is a difficult period for anyone. Whether it is amicable or contested, there are likely to be many unexpected feelings and situations that the person must deal with. Understanding what to expect once you start the process of divorce and progress towards a life without your spouse will help you understand what to do to make it easier on you. The tips below are meant to give divorcing spouses a little help to reduce the stress and get them through the process with a lesser impact.
- Don’t Declare War – Most attorneys are happy to oblige when couples decide to drag their divorces through court, racking up high legal fees along the way. Chances are that you will come out of the process a lot poorer and without the outcome that you expected. Instead, look at divorce lawyers who provide divorce mediation for a more peaceful resolution. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter J. Russo explain that mediation is one of the best options for divorce in Pennsylvania because it takes away the animosity and mud-slinging that often results in litigation.
- Put the Children First – Don’t be tempted to use them as bargaining chips to get what you want from the divorce. They are the ones that will feel the greatest impact from the divorce for the longest period of time. Even if you are ending your marriage, you will still remain parents to your children. Putting them first in your divorce agreement will help you continue to work together as an effective parenting team going forward.
- Spend More Time with Friends and Family Members – Instead of jumping into the dating scene, take some time to enjoy the people in your life that matter the most. Nothing will make it easier to keep a positive attitude about the outlook for your future than the support of people who really care about your well-being.
- Start Living Healthier – Have you been lax about eating healthy and getting exercise? Enroll in a Zumba class, re-visit a favorite activity, and start eating for health and not because of stress. You will look better, feel better, and reduce stress at the same time.
- Get Your Finances in Order – If you haven’t been taking care of your finances, it is easy to forget that you may have some new responsibilities with the divorce. Make a list of things like life, home, and auto insurance payments, oil changes for the car, and maintenance visits for the HVAC unit. List all the bills that you will need to pay monthly or otherwise and find out when each is due. That will prevent you from having any surprises with fees attached.
- Follow the Visitation Agreement to the Letter – Regardless of whether you are the custodial or non-custodial parent, the best way to take stress off of the kids is to follow the rules for how all of your lives are going to work. If there are issues with the other parent, divorce lawyers are well-versed in handling controversy.
There is no getting away from the emotions and issues related to divorce but there are ways that you can take control of your situation and lessen the impact on yourself and the children the two of you share.