It’s not that a great thing is ending—it’s that better days are coming.
Nothing is more normal than feeling a sense of loss after leaving a partnership. There was a time for preparing for a future together, but if you’re here, the chance is that those days have passed, and a new challenge has arisen as a result.
The next responsible step for you and your loved ones is navigating how to separate amicably.
If you’ve tuned into our show Love Court, you may have heard some extraordinary cases or unique circumstances which made navigating a divorce difficult. While these individual complications are still common in courts, most separations happen maturely and without incident. If two people are committed to growing separately, there is little need to impede the life of another.
Even when moods are fired up before meeting to discuss terms, keeping certain principles in mind can help you balance the needs for individual assets and the projects you took on during your partnership—either human, animal, or in joint equity.
Before you reach the room where settlement will be discussed, these are a few steps you can take to ensure you are going about negotiations with clear goals and resources in mind.
Discuss Why You Are Splitting
While the feelings may be challenging to locate, they should be resolute by the time you serve papers. This is where discussions and collaboration on joint goals come into place. Just because you are separating does not mean the process is taken alone.
Having honest and open discussions about why you are splitting should be focused on the “what-now,” not the past. It is often that resolution is found much later—not in your former partner’s absolution.
Whether you’re ready to share the news with family now or wait until the papers are signed, having the maturity to locate the reasoning behind your split will make the process less alien. As a result, you can focus more on rebuilding than questioning the foundations that brought you to this point.
Conversely, our Love Court episode on Things to Avoid in a Child Custody Battle provides an excellent example of how conversations can break down quickly when expectations and boundaries are unclear. Listen in here for a look at what not to do.
Consulting With an Experienced Attorney
Finding an experienced attorney for your unique case requirements will ensure a much smoother experience than consulting with a generalist—a mistake many learn from as unclear expectations and boundaries arise from inexperienced teams.
Whether you’re looking at splitting equity, business assets, custody, or any other multivariate resource, a team with expertise in all aspects of separation law can assist you in a smooth transition from your marriage.
Working with the wrong team can result in improper communication, stressed deadlines, and unrealistic pictures of the future. It’s not enough to hear a compelling case from a law team—you must begin to plan so that you enter discussions as prepared as possible and don’t end up on the back foot with demands.
Locate, Secure, and Track Essential Documents and Processes
Once you are committed to the separation path, you should begin collecting all of your personal documents and tracking interactions with your former spouse. The more accurate your reports at the time of separation, the better equipped you will be to anticipate and answer questions during negotiations.
Ongoing documentation will not only help you to prove what is yours but can help turn any discussion in your favor should your former spouse’s attorney disagree with your claims. If you have paper copies, duplicate them—if you have digital resources, back them up. Every little bit goes a long way in laying out your case and ensuring an equitable outcome during the division of assets.
Keeping one eye on the future and one on past assets isn’t always straightforward. Compassionate and observant lawyers will help you articulate your needs during separation and push for a favorable outcome as discussions go forward. However, as we looked at above, preparation goes just as far in laying the groundwork for your case.
Whether you’re in the separation process or are looking for counsel before you make your plans known, trust Anderson Keuscher to bring you to the table with everything you need to succeed in uncertain times.
Contact our team today to get started.
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