Divorce is traditionally among the most stressful situations that individuals can face in their personal lives. Still, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take steps to make it less stressful for everyone involved. As an experienced divorce lawyer – including those who practice at The Law Office of Daniel Wright – can attest, most of the “power” concerning how a divorce case progresses is up to the spouses involved. If you are both committed to maintaining an amicable divorce, the process will be less stressful than it otherwise might be. However, even if an amicable split is not in your future – for whatever reason – you can do several things to make this process less stressful for you, uniquely. 

Sort Through Your Feelings

Following your decision (or your spouse’s decision) to get a divorce, you will likely experience a wide variety of emotions, including anger, fear, jealousy, and regret. Before you start tackling the practical matters surrounding your divorce, give yourself time to process your feelings and accept the end of your marriage. This step will allow you to focus on your future and lead to constructive and healthy decisions that unchecked emotions could compromise. 

Let Go of the Past

You and your spouse are resolving the grievances in your marriage with a decision to divorce. As a result, you no longer need to rehash past slights, arguments, or disagreements. Now is the time to work on finalizing your separation as fairly and quickly as possible so that you can move forward in your own way. 

Plan Your Future

Although divorce marks the end of your marriage, it also represents the beginning of a new life that you control. You may be tackling various logistics surrounding your living situation or child custody, but it is helpful to take some time to envision an ideal post-divorce lifestyle. Doing so will give you the positive outlook necessary for compromise and the resolution of your divorce.

Communicate With Your Children

Anyone going through a divorce that involves children knows that the dissolution of a family can be traumatizing. Children may express anxiety in ways that may challenge you while you are negotiating the end of your marriage. They may also have questions and concerns which they may initially keep to themselves.  You can help your children adjust smoothly to family changes by engaging them in ongoing discussions and soliciting their opinions and feedback in an age-appropriate manner. 

Seek Legal Advice

If your spouse serves you divorce papers through an attorney, it is critical to hire an attorney to represent you as quickly as possible, even if you and your spouse are on good terms. An attorney has the training to represent your interests unemotionally and keep your divorce proceedings running as smoothly as possible. Although you may not think you need the services of an attorney, it is almost always a mistake to forego legal representation during a divorce process.