Guide to a Friendly Divorce

We have all heard the horror stories about just how ugly divorce can get, and the fact is that they are not exaggerations. There are, however, things you can do to help keep your divorce as friendly as possible, which – in the end – is not only the right thing to do for your kids but also for yourself. A bitter divorce can take a lot out of you and can make the recovery process that much more agonizing. While you shouldn’t lose sight of your parental and financial rights along the way, putting some effort into keeping your divorce amicable can really pay off, and an experienced Minnesota divorce attorney can help you with that. 

The Terms of Your Divorce

Ultimately, your divorce will come down to resolving the primary terms involved, which include all the following (as applicable):

• Child Custody
• Child Support
• The Division of Marital Property
• Alimony

While any one of these can become a sticking point, child custody and the division of assets have a tendency to become the most contentious – and both child support and alimony will likely hinge on the resolution of these primary terms. 

Child Custody

Minnesota addresses child custody with both legal custody, which determines who will be making the major parenting decisions regarding your children and parenting time, which determines how you and your ex will divide your time with the kids. When it comes to your children and addressing the fact that you won’t be able to spend as much time with them, emotions naturally run high. 

There is, however, one thing you can do to help ensure that the resolution of your child custody arrangements doesn’t derail your efforts to keep your divorce out of contentious territory. You want to keep the fact that you both love your children and want what is best for them at the forefront of your thoughts. The experts all agree that maintaining a deep, rewarding relationship with both parents is in the best interests of all children (barring a significant reason for determining otherwise). Allowing this fact to guide you may help you resolve your child custody terms amicably between yourselves. 

The Division of Marital Property

In Minnesota, those assets that you acquire as a married couple are considered marital property – regardless of how you acquire them. Upon divorce, these assets must be divided between you in a manner that is deemed fair. The best way to keep this division cooperative is by carefully accounting for all your assets and going into negotiations knowing what is involved. You should be prepared to objectively address essential matters, while putting any irrational emotions on a back burner. 

An Experienced Minnesota Divorce Attorney Can Help

The practiced Minnesota divorce attorneys at Atticus Family Law are well positioned and well prepared to help you obtain as friendly a divorce as possible – while ensuring that your rights are protected. For more information about how we can help, please don’t put off contacting us today.