In recent years, the media has placed a heavy focus on the most contentious and bitter of divorces. Whether it is coverage of a nasty celebrity divorce or reality television shows that seem to revolve on nothing other than warring spouses, the images we see of divorce are almost universally negative. This is unfortunate, because there are many ways that a Connecticut couple can end a marriage, and not all involve lengthy or embittered fighting.
By far the least stressful and expensive divorce process is one in which the parties work together in a collaborative manner. Each spouse can retain his or her own attorney, but the focus is on working together to end the union. Parties respond to communications promptly, avoid letting emotion cloud the process and focus on the end goal of moving on with their separate lives.
When this level of cooperation is unlikely, the next step could be mediation. In a mediated divorce, parties use the services of a trained mediator who can help guide them through the process without bias. The mediator can facilitate communications between parties and their legal representatives, and can offer suggestions on how to resolve issues that the parties become deadlocked on.
In some cases, there is no way to avoid a litigated divorce. This can occur when one spouse is unhappy about the end of the marriage, or in cases in which cheating or other disruptive acts led to the need for divorce. In cases in which litigation is unavoidable, it is important for each spouse to fully understand his or her rights under Connecticut law in order to achieve the most desirable outcome.
Source: New Hampshire Union Leader, “Know the Law: Advice on resolving divorce with grace,” Margaret Kerouac, Feb. 10, 2013