The Importance of Navigating Your Divorce with Integrity
Going through divorce is one of the most contentious and emotional events that a couple can face in their lives. If not handled correctly, a couple can turn an already unpleasant and fraught occasion into a lifetime of hostility, bitterness and regret. Not only can the spouses be left with anger and grief, but their children will be left hurt, confused, and upset. When embarking upon a divorce, the party initiating the action should be careful to behave with integrity in a respectful, adult manner, and to always be certain to treat the other party carefully and with dignity. While it may be tempting to lash out, or to allow pent-up feelings to continue to surface, taking the high road is always the better option. One can never go wrong by being a decent human being.
How to Navigate Divorce with Integrity
Divorce will always be an emotional event in a family’s life, but with careful, correct behavior, divorce needn’t always end in hostility and recrimination. Here are some key points to handling a divorce with integrity.
- Decide what you are willing to do and follow through on your decision. A lack of clarity can lead to confusion and misunderstanding. If, for example, you don’t believe that counseling can preserve the marriage, be clear and precise on that point with your spouse as soon as possible. Similarly, if you are willing to try counseling, then commit yourself to a certain number of counseling sessions and follow through on that commitment.
- Formulate a plan. Discuss your goals with your attorney. This will guide your negotiations with your spouse and the spouse’s attorney. In your negotiations, listen to what your spouse wants as well. You may discover you have common goals, or that you can reach solutions which are satisfactory to both you and your spouse, which will allow you to reach your own goals more easily.
- Be courteous and restrained. Keep your discussions with your spouse brief, and polite. So far as possible, discuss matters related to the divorce only, or to specific areas of concern, like the children. Discussing past events or old arguments can only lead to fresh aggravation.
- Be deliberate and intentional. Always choose your language and your actions carefully, not only around your spouse, but around your children, and your friends. A harsh word or thoughtless action can cause emotional distress and anger to those around you. Even after your divorce, you must still work with your spouse to raise your children, and you should take no action and say nothing which would undermine your ability to meet that common goal.
- Be understanding. If you have filed for divorce, you have probably reached an emotional willingness to end your marriage and your relationship with your spouse. Your spouse, on the other hand, may not have reached the same emotional point. It may take time for your spouse to realize and accept what is happening.
Finding a Divorce Lawyer to Help You get Divorced with Integrity
If you are considering a divorce or involved in a divorce, the Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell can provide you with sound legal advice and representation. For over twenty years, Matthew Z. Martell has practiced as a divorce attorney in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice, Florida. Our professional staff understands that our divorce clients already face a difficult situation which is different from most other sorts of legal clients. Family law practice involves turmoil and emotion in the private lives of not just the client, but in a number of people near and dear to the client as well. We realize our clients wish to get this unpleasant process done and settled as quickly and efficiently as possible, so that life can move on as soon as practicable. We treat everyone involved with courtesy and respect, without sacrificing our professional duty of strong legal representation for our clients. If you need the services of a divorce lawyer Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, or Venice, Florida, please call us today for a 15 minute free initial phone consultation.
