Is there such thing as a “good divorce”? Globe and Mail writer Zosia Bielski suggests there can be in her recent article, Divorcing with dignity: How modern exes are treating a split as an awakening.
In this June 2016 piece, Bielski offers stories of both real-life and celebrity exes who are “re-envisioning divorce in hopes of splitting with dignity” and offers helpful emotional and practical “best practice” tips for harmonious post-divorce relations, including:
- Don’t talk about dating with your ex
- Enter into a “lifestyle agreement’ with your ex
- If you and your ex are “bird nesting” (rotating through the family home, with children staying put) or temporarily sharing the family home, create timelines and ground rules for use of the space
We really appreciated the optimistic perspective offered in this piece – very refreshing.
It also caused us to reflect on the fact that involving lawyers in your separation and having an amicable divorce are not mutually exclusive. Collaborative Divorce is very much centered on helping a family move through the transition of a separation together, not at odds. And even when separating spouses are not formally participating in the Collaborative process, a family lawyer can provide expertise and clarity around issues such as property division, spousal and child support that can help people make informed decisions after a relationship ends. Seeing a lawyer does not need to be intimidating or a signal of all out war — it can be as simple as understanding your available options and how to proceed through the process.
Something to think about…
