New Year's Resolution 1 - Managing your break-up amicably
Many couples delay their breakup over the holiday season while they meet family commitments, but January often brings a renewed commitment to separate and move in different paths. If one of your New Year's resolutions is to split from your spouse amicably, here are some tip to help it work.
Get a good lawyer
One of the best ways to keep things amicable is to make sure that both parties have access to a good lawyer and are confident that they are getting a fair deal in the financial settlement. It can be a good idea to use a different law firm to make sure you both feel confident that your interests are being represented, especially if there is some confusion over the exact size of the estate or intended child access agreements.
Keep it zipped
It can be tempting to unload to friends and family about the reasons for your split but this can often come back to bite you, especially if you are still in the midst of organising your separation. This can also affect your relationships with your family and social network including children and extended family, so it can be much better to say less than more on the topic of your separation until it is all finalised.
Be honest
It can be hard to part with possessions that mean something to you, but it is better to be honest with any assets that you have as the courts may later discover any assets that you have hidden and this can reflect poorly on you during the divorce proceedings. There are likely to need to be compromises on both sides in order to keep divorce proceedings amicable.
Be discreet
Even if you have moved on quickly and have a new partner, it is a good idea to keep them away from proceedings to keep things amicable. Having the new partner meet your ex-spouse in the waiting room of the law office can make people tense and can lead to the wrong impression over how seriously you are taking matters. This doesn't mean you can't date of course, but discretion can go a long way in keeping things as amicable as possible.
If you are looking to have an amicable break-up this year be sure to take advice from an experienced family lawyer who can show you how to get proceedings finalised as quickly and amicably as possible.