7 Strategies to a Successful Divorce
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How do you get through a divorce successfully?
If you are going through a divorce, here are 7 strategies that will ensure that you have a successful divorce.
Here you'll find essential truths about the divorce experience that very few people will be honest enough to tell you. They're more likely to try to assuage whatever feelings you have (hurt, anger, resentment, relief, indignation, hurry, desire to be reasonable, etc.). They're less likely to tell you the real deal about what lay ahead for you.
I am a divorce attorney in northern New Jersey. I've represented hundreds of people navigate through their divorce. What have we seen? We've seen that some divorcing people are open to suggestions, and some are not. Some people are hurt, bitter, angry, and resentful, but want to get past those feelings (eventually) and have a good life. Others feel all of those things, and have every intention of nurturing those feelings through the divorce and into their post-divorce life, and actually, to their grave. Some people are accepting and wanting the divorce, and are reasonable, rational, and centered, but are frustrated with their spouses irrationality and emotionality, and are stressed by the whole divorce process.
If you're going through a divorce, hang in there. There is hope. And, if you follow these 7 Strategies, you'll end up with a good life both during and after the divorce.
Here you'll find essential truths about the divorce experience that very few people will be honest enough to tell you. They're more likely to try to assuage whatever feelings you have (hurt, anger, resentment, relief, indignation, hurry, desire to be reasonable, etc.). They're less likely to tell you the real deal about what lay ahead for you.
I am a divorce attorney in northern New Jersey. I've represented hundreds of people navigate through their divorce. What have we seen? We've seen that some divorcing people are open to suggestions, and some are not. Some people are hurt, bitter, angry, and resentful, but want to get past those feelings (eventually) and have a good life. Others feel all of those things, and have every intention of nurturing those feelings through the divorce and into their post-divorce life, and actually, to their grave. Some people are accepting and wanting the divorce, and are reasonable, rational, and centered, but are frustrated with their spouses irrationality and emotionality, and are stressed by the whole divorce process.
If you're going through a divorce, hang in there. There is hope. And, if you follow these 7 Strategies, you'll end up with a good life both during and after the divorce.
What to do when your spouse is really really really driving you crazy about this-or-that?
Attorneys are trained to think and respond logically. There are really only 4 things an attorney can do in response to a complaint you have about what your spouse is doing. For example, let's say that you have a pending divorce, and your spouse is being mean to you, or is not feeding the children the way you want them to, or is taking your favorite jacket, etc. And, you tell your attorney this.
Can your attorney go over to your spouse and yell at them and beat them into submission? No.
Well then, can the judge do that? No.
So, what can be done then? Here are the 4 things that attorneys, judges and the Court can do?
1. Call your spouse's attorney - Sometimes, bringing your spouse's stupidity to the attention of the other attorney can work because the other attorney is often more rational than your spouse. So, if your spouse's attorney thinks that your spouse's stupidity is going to end up in front of a judge who will lecture them, and that attorney doesn't think that your spouse has money to waste on going to Court over such small issues, then that attorney will often be successful in telling your spouse to "knock it off!"
2. Writing a letter to your spouse's attorney - Whether we recommend writing a letter or making a phone call really depends on what the issue is and who the other attorney is. Sometimes, we want a paper trail because we think that the other attorney won't do anything, or won't accomplish anything with your spouse, and thus, we will end up in front of a judge over the issue.
3. Bring a motion - Understand 1 basic thing about the divorce process: The judge decides NOTHING until the final trial - UNLESS you bring a motion. A motion is a formal process that gets a request to the judge, and that request is about a temporary problem (e.g. who will pay the mortgage, who will walk the dog, who will plow the driveway). Motions in my neck of the woods are expensive. What do I call expensive? Oh, 15 to 25 hours of legal work. So, at my hourly rate of $250/hour, that's about $3,500 to $6,500 for a motion. Can it be more? Absolutely. Can it be less? Rarely.
4. Prepare for trial - If it's a "big picture" issue, then it's going to be decided at trial, so you may or may not want to bring a motion about it now. If not, your posture might be to just forget about trying to work it out with the other side (who's acting like a brick wall) and just prepare for trial. Keep in mind though, that the Court will force you to continue the settlement conversations because the Court does not want to actually have to hear a trial.
Okay, now that you know those 4 possible legal responses to a problem during the divorce, you can start evaluating your prefered resolution BEFORE you call your attorney.
Can your attorney go over to your spouse and yell at them and beat them into submission? No.
Well then, can the judge do that? No.
So, what can be done then? Here are the 4 things that attorneys, judges and the Court can do?
1. Call your spouse's attorney - Sometimes, bringing your spouse's stupidity to the attention of the other attorney can work because the other attorney is often more rational than your spouse. So, if your spouse's attorney thinks that your spouse's stupidity is going to end up in front of a judge who will lecture them, and that attorney doesn't think that your spouse has money to waste on going to Court over such small issues, then that attorney will often be successful in telling your spouse to "knock it off!"
2. Writing a letter to your spouse's attorney - Whether we recommend writing a letter or making a phone call really depends on what the issue is and who the other attorney is. Sometimes, we want a paper trail because we think that the other attorney won't do anything, or won't accomplish anything with your spouse, and thus, we will end up in front of a judge over the issue.
3. Bring a motion - Understand 1 basic thing about the divorce process: The judge decides NOTHING until the final trial - UNLESS you bring a motion. A motion is a formal process that gets a request to the judge, and that request is about a temporary problem (e.g. who will pay the mortgage, who will walk the dog, who will plow the driveway). Motions in my neck of the woods are expensive. What do I call expensive? Oh, 15 to 25 hours of legal work. So, at my hourly rate of $250/hour, that's about $3,500 to $6,500 for a motion. Can it be more? Absolutely. Can it be less? Rarely.
4. Prepare for trial - If it's a "big picture" issue, then it's going to be decided at trial, so you may or may not want to bring a motion about it now. If not, your posture might be to just forget about trying to work it out with the other side (who's acting like a brick wall) and just prepare for trial. Keep in mind though, that the Court will force you to continue the settlement conversations because the Court does not want to actually have to hear a trial.
Okay, now that you know those 4 possible legal responses to a problem during the divorce, you can start evaluating your prefered resolution BEFORE you call your attorney.
“I just want
them to
STOP!”
I just want them to STOP!
Yes, I know.
But, that's not going to happen.
THAT'S why you're getting a divorce.
They didn't STOP during the marriage, and they're not going to stop NOW.
Stop what? Stop doing whatever drives you crazy, makes you nuts, makes you furious, undermines you, wastes the money, hurts the children's feelings, hurts your feelings, frustrates you, annoys you ... (you get the picture).
Now, eventually, after a very expensive litigation and a very expensive trial years from now, you may end up with a Court Order that says that they have to do this-or-that, and you may finally be relieved, but that piece of paper will come at great emotional, physical, temporal and financial cost, and your then-ex-spouse may or may not follow what's written on it.
That's why I created these 7 Strategies, because, after all, if you're not going to be able to change them, what can you do?
Answer: Follow these 7 Strategies.
But, that's not going to happen.
THAT'S why you're getting a divorce.
They didn't STOP during the marriage, and they're not going to stop NOW.
Stop what? Stop doing whatever drives you crazy, makes you nuts, makes you furious, undermines you, wastes the money, hurts the children's feelings, hurts your feelings, frustrates you, annoys you ... (you get the picture).
Now, eventually, after a very expensive litigation and a very expensive trial years from now, you may end up with a Court Order that says that they have to do this-or-that, and you may finally be relieved, but that piece of paper will come at great emotional, physical, temporal and financial cost, and your then-ex-spouse may or may not follow what's written on it.
That's why I created these 7 Strategies, because, after all, if you're not going to be able to change them, what can you do?
Answer: Follow these 7 Strategies.
LAUGHTER
There is ONE THING that ALL of my clients - and ALL of their families - have in common:
They all have a lack of LAUGHTER in their lives.
Clients seem to discount this fact, and the importance of it on their lives.
BUT, when I remind them that it's probably been a long time since their children saw them laugh - and better yet, since they laughed WITH their children - THEN they realize that this crucial element of their children's lives has been missing for a l-o-n-g time.
So, start laughing again NOW!
This laughter will:
1. Make your home better
2. Make your kids happier
3. Make you happier
4. Make your stress from the divorce situation
5. Make you be able to deal with the divorce better
GO AHEAD! Click on one - click on them all! I dare you to try watching any one of them without laughing so hard you cry. Vote for your favorite.
They all have a lack of LAUGHTER in their lives.
Clients seem to discount this fact, and the importance of it on their lives.
BUT, when I remind them that it's probably been a long time since their children saw them laugh - and better yet, since they laughed WITH their children - THEN they realize that this crucial element of their children's lives has been missing for a l-o-n-g time.
So, start laughing again NOW!
This laughter will:
1. Make your home better
2. Make your kids happier
3. Make you happier
4. Make your stress from the divorce situation
5. Make you be able to deal with the divorce better
GO AHEAD! Click on one - click on them all! I dare you to try watching any one of them without laughing so hard you cry. Vote for your favorite.
Want some clean stuff to watch with the kids?
Here are a few Christian comedians that are clean enough to watch with the kids.
(Actually, all the videos above are clean enough to watch with the kids too!)
(Actually, all the videos above are clean enough to watch with the kids too!)
SquidAngels that have *Blessed* This Lens!
These SquidAngels are SquidAngels because they are awesome writers and creators of their own Squidoo lenses! They are probably Giant Squids, and/or have Purple Stars, and/or had a Lens of the Day. Visit them! You'll be amazed at what you discover.Books I recommend to divorce clients all the time
Life Strategies: Doing What Works, Doing What Matters by Ph.d., Phillip C. Mcgraw
If you are: capable of more than you are accomplishing; more...0 points
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie
recovery has begun for millions of individuals wit more...0 points
The Power of Intention by Wayne W. Dyer
Intention is generally viewed as a pit-bull kind o more...0 points
Toss in your 2 cents about the divorce experience
Everyone has a divorce story - their own, or a friend's - feel free to share it here!
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rmartin
Apr 25, 2012 @ 1:30 am | delete
- Laughter is a good medicine indeed.
- colorado springs divorce lawyers
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SueDawes
Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:35 am | delete
- Thats a good one from David Ferrell. Funny but so true isnt it..
DIY Divorce
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divorce4
Feb 3, 2011 @ 10:14 pm | delete
- That Bill Cosby is classic... It's funny how you can find humor even in divorce.
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windygig
Jan 28, 2011 @ 2:15 am | delete
- Smart. Honest. Bench view: I wish every divorce ATTORNEY knew this too. :)
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TheresaMarkham
Jan 28, 2011 @ 7:19 am | delete
- Thanks Windygig! LOL! I wish that too!
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Don't Be Divorce Shark Bait
Happily Ever After Divorce
I really like this book and have started recommending it to my clients.
Reading this book is like having a friend that you can laugh and cry with through the whole turmultuous process.
Reading this book is like having a friend that you can laugh and cry with through the whole turmultuous process.
by TheresaMarkham
Theresa A. Markham, Esq. is a divorce lawyer, and loves living in scenic Northwest New Jersey with her husband, Chuck, and daughter Zoe, and is visited... more »
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