How to Have a Good Divorce

You know you want to move on, but you want to move on well.  You’re looking for a divorce you can be proud of, that is respectful to the marriage you had, to your spouse, and to your children.  You’re looking for a divorce that sets up a positive future.

Read on to learn how to have a good divorce.

How to Have the Best Divorce Possible

Determine Your Goals

Divorce is a legal mechanism with tremendous power to change your life for the positive.  Leaving an unhappy marriage for a better future is transformative.

But how do you determine what you want?  How do you decide if what you have is better than the alternative?  What future do you want to create?

Determining your goals is critical to designing your divorce itself — but doing is even more critical to ensuring your divorce is geared towards creating the life you want post-divorce.

For more on our to figure out your goals . . .

Read: How To Decide Whether to Divorce

Read: Using EAR Statements to Solve Problems With Your Ex During Divorce

Choose a Divorce Process Consistent With Your Goals

Once you’ve decided on your priorities, share them with your divorce attorney.  When she knows what matters most to you, she can begin the process of figuring out which of the three divorce and family law methods — litigation, collaborative divorce, and mediation –might be the right for you.

While we’re on this topic — make sure your family law firm has divorce attorneys experienced in all three approaches so you have the maximum options. The decision of how you work through the divorce will impact you and your family for years to come. For example, you don’t want to wind-up in a litigated divorce just because the lawyer you met with only litigates rather than because it’s best for your family.  You also don’t want to wind up in a failed mediation just because you met with an attorney who only mediates.

For more on the different divorce processes in Connecticut . . .

Watch: How to Choose Your Divorce Approach: Litigation, Collaborative Divorce, and Mediation

Read: Settlement & Divorce

Communicate Effectively With Your Spouse

After your goals, two spouses’ ability to communicate effectively (effectively — not perfectly) is a key piece to having the best divorce possible.  Although you cannot control your spouse’s communication, you are 100% in charge of how you communicate (and respond).

For five tips to communicate effectively with your spouse . . .

Read: Don’t Add Fuel to the Fire: Five Tips for Smoother Communication During Divorce

If you have a high conflict spouse . . .

Read: How Do I Handle a High Conflict Spouse During Divorce

Stay Focused on Your Goals

Those priorities you identified during your Goals & Planning Session?  Don’t stick them in a drawer.

It’s easy to get swept up in the minutiae of the divorce and allow it to distract you from your big, important goals.  You need to make decisions about how to handle the details, for sure.  But when you make those decisions, make them in the context of the things that really matter to you.  Does an hour difference on pick up and drop off really matter, or does having substantial, quality time with your children matter?

You get the idea.

Keep yourself focused on the big picture (such as financial stability) rather than aggravating annoyances (a bill your spouse paid late).  Make a physical list of your overarching goals in a secure, private location, and refer to it when you feel yourself getting agitated and sweating the small stuff.

Read: When Reality Doesn’t Match Up With Your Vision

Read: How to Have an Amicable Divorce

Next Steps

For more information about Connecticut divorce and family law, check out our Divorce Information and Facts. If you have questions or want to learn more about how our team of divorce attorneys can help you with your custody or Post Judgment issue, please contact us here.