A New Year and a Fresh Start: Getting Divorced and Starting Anew

The holidays are always a stressful time. Shopping malls become war zones, extended family members become nightmares, and credit card bills are through the roof. It is no wonder that the end of December seems to be the breaking point for a lot of couples – so much so that divorce and family lawyers often refer to the first day back at the office after the winter break as “divorce day.”

Regardless of whether the split was a long time coming or a sudden revelation, no one in their right mind wants a lengthy divorce. Couples want to do everything in their power to speed up the divorce process, while still getting everything they’re entitled to.

Here are some ways to get through your divorce as quickly and easily as possible.

Consider Divorce Mediation

 Divorce mediation is a great solution for couples who want to get in and out of court successfully without a lot of conflict. It’s more effective and cost efficient than scheduling court date after court date to try and battle out problems with lawyers. There are many benefits to mediation. Typically, a mediated divorce is over and done with within four months, a quarter of the time it takes to complete a contested divorce. Mediation is not challenging to prepare for, and if you request it, you barely have to see your spouse to go through the process.

Seek Financial Assistance

Seeking financial advice during your divorce is always a good idea. There are certain aspects of finance and law that are challenging even without the added stress of ending a marriage. Financially, there are some common money mistakes divorcing individuals often make and some common financial pitfalls to avoid. Stay knowledgeable about your finances by reading up on tips to avoid financial disaster, and other articles on financial planning.

Find the Right Lawyer

It is essential that you find a good lawyer whom you can work with. Choosing this lawyer should take a lot of thought. You need to be able to trust this person enough to answer questions they have honestly in order for them to give you the best possible results.

Pick the Best Divorce Team

The best way to get the most out of your divorce is by working with people who know what they’re doing. You want professional assistance to ensure you’re being taken care of rather than taken advantage of. In order to get the results you want, you have to know what to look for in a divorce team. You need to know what questions to ask prospective divorce lawyers, how to evaluate an attorney, what to look for in a mediator, and once you find that perfect fit, you need to know how to work with your divorce team in order to achieve the best possible outcome.

Don’t Forget About the Kids

One of the most important things that is often overlooked when striving for a speedy divorce is the best interest of your children. It is crucial that the emotional needs of your children don’t get ignored and lost in the shuffle. Try and make divorce easy on your children by providing them with resources and outlets to help them cope. Never forget the importance of cooperating with your ex to establish a healthy co-parenting relationship.

Take Care of Yourself

Finally, remember to take care of yourself. It is easy to get caught up in the stress of ending a chapter in your life, but try and remember how great it will be to start a new one. Take this opportunity to build yourself up and become a more positive person. Find healthy ways to handle your emotions and don’t let stress take over.

For additional information, check out these related articles on Divorce Magazine’s website:

Understanding the Divorce Process: A Guide to the Legal Process of Divorce

How to Get a Divorce: A Step-by-Step Layman’s Guide

Getting a Divorce? First Thing’s First: A Guide to the Process

 

Dan Couvrette, President & CEO, Divorce Magazine

Dan Couvrette is a marketing expert, public speaker, magazine publisher, and artist. He is the CEO of and Divorce Marketing Group, a Toronto-based marketing agency dedicated to helping divorce professionals (such as lawyers, financial advisors and mediators) across North America market their services; and the CEO & Publisher of Family Lawyer Magazine, Divorce Magazine and www.DivorceMagazine.com. Connect with him on LinkedInGoogle+, Twitter and Facebook. He can be reached at (866) 803-6667 ex. 124 or danc@divorcemag.com.

1 comment

  1. Martha says:

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