Woodbury Family Law Blog

Toxic marriages can be crippling. They can take a tremendous emotional toll and have a way of contaminating self-esteem and self-worth. It seems irrational to stay with someone who isn’t good for you, but sometimes the most destructive relationships can be the hardest ones to leave.

When facing the end of a toxic marriage, it’s common for people to feel “less than” or like a failure. But you’re not less than, and you’re not a failure. And, you’re also not alone. According to the American Psychological Association, approximately 40-50% of marriages will end in divorce. Divorce is never easy but divorcing someone with a high conflict personality can add additional challenges.

A particularly challenging aspect of the divorce process is figuring out how to deal with a future ex-spouse during the negotiation process. This can be especially difficult for the parents of young children who are going through divorce, as child custody can quickly become a source of conflict. A couple of steps, however, may help to make the divorce process as smooth as possible for those in this situation in Minnesota.

First, it may be beneficial for the two parties who are getting divorced to try to minimize their contact with one another following their divorce. As co-parents, they will likely need to have discussions about their shared children, but that does not mean they have to speak often. Encouraging open dialogue while setting boundaries may help to avoid unnecessary conflict in the co-parenting relationship. In addition, it is a smart idea for the parents to use the same rules and parenting styles to further avoid conflict.

When two people in Minnesota decide to get divorced, they may be worried about how they will handle issues like alimony and property division. If they have young children, child support and child custody may also be of concern. However, it is possible for people who are going through divorce to resolve these and other family law issues without having to go through the costly and time-consuming litigation process.

An increasing number of divorcing couples are opting for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, such as arbitration and mediation, rather than going to trial. Why? Because an ADR process offers a far more customized way of ending a marriage. This approach is also faster and more flexible than litigation.

When people choose to end their marriage, they may feel relief about gaining control of their futures. At the same time, they may feel overwhelmed, as divorce can be time-consuming and complicated. Fortunately, a couple of steps may help to make the divorce process easier to manage in Minnesota.

For starters, it makes sense to be practical when attempting to reach a divorce settlement with the other party. Unfortunately, in many situations, the spouses see each other as competition and look to litigate every aspect of the divorce, ranging from asset distribution to spousal maintenance. This can be costly both loss of time and added costs, in addition to causing unnecessary stress for all parties involved. On the other hand, being cooperative and willing to find common ground can often lead to a more positive divorce experience.