Tips When Divorcing A Good Friend
Sometimes divorce doesn't end with two bitter individuals, but with two friends who have made a decision to part ways on good terms. In those cases, your approach to a divorce may be a little bit different. Here are some steps you can take for the most amicable divorce possible.
Hire a Respectful Lawyer
Your choice of a divorce attorney will be a big decision when you are trying to negotiate an amicable divorce. A lot will hinge on the personality of the lawyer. They should be someone who is empathetic and cordial, rather than forceful. Some lawyers will be more used to handling aggressive divorce cases, while others will have experience in negotiating in a more pragmatic style.
Consider Fair Asset Splitting Practices
Consult your lawyer about the most fair asset splitting practices. If the marriage went on for some time, the split may be a little different than 50/50. For example, if one person gave up a career to support the family and the partnership, then it might be more fair for them to receive a greater share of assets plus alimony payments. If you hear it from your lawyer before you hear it from a partner, it can help any requests seem more reasonable.
Write Down Your Top Picks for Splitting the Estate
At the same time, it helps to make sure that each person gets what they want out of the estate specifically. Maybe one person really wants to keep the dog, while another person wants to keep the car. These things are very important to focus on during a friendly divorce to help alleviate tensions and keep a positive environment.
Discuss Joint Custody and Visitation
Either joint custody or frequent visitation rights will usually be the right choice in an amicable divorce. Discuss the implications of each as a group with your lawyer.
Have Talks Mediated As Necessary
You might be surprised for some conflict to arise when you thought you'd had everything sorted out. But splitting up assets or discussing custody in a divorce can raise contentions because of the high stakes involved. So, if you find the conversation becoming more heated as you attempt to negotiate, don't be afraid to cut off the conversation and schedule a time to meet with your family lawyer, like Kleveland Law, to mediate the conversation. It always helps to have a third person in the room to keep the conversation balanced.