Breaking up with your spouse and going through a divorce can be emotionally tolling. In the beginning, you may feel like you want to go through the process as quickly as possible. If this is the case, it could lead to rash decisions that ultimately create negative results in the long run. Instead of trying to settle a divorce as quickly as possible, there are four different reasons to delay the divorce proceedings for at least six months. Even though you are delaying the final divorce proceeding, you can still live your life separately and get a divorce settlement that you deserve.
Independent Living
Divorce proceedings can often feel like they are going backwards. A divorce agreement can include the splitting of assets and marital support before you are actually living on your own. This can set up improper expectations and lead to multiple struggles along the way. By living separately for six months, you can determine what type of support and settlement you truly need after the divorce is over. This includes housing costs, daily living, and any changes in employment you may be going through. This type of independent living can also help with the discovery process of the divorce. When hiring a divorce attorney, the discovery process covers all of the financial income or debt that a couple has. The extra time can ensure that this process is fully covered and nothing is missed through a discover investigation. Through your independent living, you can discover extra needs or services that you need support for. For example, if your spouse was always the one who completed home plumbing repairs, you may need to budget for plumbing services needed in the future.
Child Custody Agreements
If you and your spouse have children, then one of the biggest parts of divorce proceedings will be deciding on a child custody agreement. Instead of setting something in stone right away, you can help avoid court battles and various appeals by taking time to establish different routines and possible custody agreements. For example, in the beginning you can test out an even 50/50 split to see how the different times affect the children and various routines. If the divorce proceedings started in the summer, you can wait until the start of the school year to see how the custody situation changes once school begins and children are involved in different activities. By keeping an open mind on visitation and custody, you and your spouse can work out an agreement that is fair to everyone involved.
Heightened Emotions
The initial first weeks of the divorce process can include heightened emotions including sadness, anger, and irrational thoughts. By delaying the divorce proceedings, you can allow these emotions to settle down and then go through the divorce proceedings with a clear mind. These heightened emotions can work negatively on both sides. For example, a spouse that has cheated may feel guilty and give up too many of their assets or financial needs to successfully make it on their own after a divorce. On the other side, blame and shock for the divorce could lead to personal attacks or vendettas that causes a messy situation. A six month delay will allow things to calm down and help you have the best perspective on the proceedings.
Mediation & Counseling Sessions
Delaying your divorce proceedings can help you keep the whole case out of court all together. During the six months of waiting, an attorney can help you set up various mediation and counseling sessions to help you work out a fair and balanced divorce agreement. During mediation sessions, you can open up communications with your spouse and start talking about various topics that are important to each of you. Personal counseling sessions can help you manage your emotions, see things from the other side, and enter mediation sessions with a positive attitude. Extending these mediation sessions out for multiple months will help you focus on separate topics and making agreements instead of lumping it all into one rushed mess.
Early in the divorce process, you can use this reasoning to help explain the delays or extension of time to your spouse. Keeping open communication can go a long way in having an easy divorce. For more information, contact an experienced divorce attorney from a firm like the Law Offices of Gordon Liebmann.
