If you decided to talk to your spouse about divorcing and are now dealing with arguments and aggressive behaviors, it’s time to talk about how to handle a contentious divorce. There are some people who will react negatively when their spouse wants to leave, and they will react in ways that you might not expect.
If your spouse is unwilling to negotiate with you and is causing problems during the divorce, there are some tips that can help. Here are three to consider.
- Find the right attorney as soon as possible
The first thing to do is to get the right attorney for your case as soon as you can. It is helpful to work with someone who is familiar with litigating divorce cases and who understands the methods that work best to resolve disputes.
- Be willing to negotiate (within reason)
The next thing to do is to be willing to negotiate your case. Having flexibility may help you agree with your spouse even when they aren’t very flexible themselves. However, you do need to have limits, and you should only negotiate within reason. If you truly can’t find a resolution, your case can be litigated at trial.
- Consider alternative dispute resolution options
The last thing you should try is asking your spouse if they would be willing to try alternative dispute resolution options instead of litigating. Express your interest in keeping the divorce as private as possible. If your spouse also wants to retain privacy, knowing that mediation or arbitration could help them do so may help you get the case into ADR rather than going through costly, time-intensive litigation.
You deserve help to get through a contentious divorce
Contentious divorces are tough to deal with, but there are ways to resolve them. Remember, being respectful and willing to work with your spouse will work in your favor if you end up going to court. Judges will appreciate your willingness to set aside your differences, and they are more likely to see you positively compared to a spouse who is intentionally causing disputes or refusing to budge.