When a Washington couples divorces, there are a number of ways that they can proceed with the dissolution of their marriage. One approach is to work in a collaborative manner to iron out the details of the divorce, and then present a written agreement to a family court to finalize the process. This, however, involves a degree of cooperation and communication that is simply not possible among many divorcing couples, and it is a rare couple who can complete their divorce in this manner.
Other spouses turn to medication to complete their divorce, and rely on legal information provided by the mediator to reach agreements on their own regarding child custody, property division and other issues. For many couples, however, the end of their marriage is not a time in which cooperation or collaboration is a possibility, and they complete the process through litigation. When considering litigating a divorce, there are a number of things to keep in mind.
To begin, litigation often creates bullies, or exacerbates bullying behavior in those who are already so inclined. Spouses often throw verbal barbs back and forth, or have their attorneys do so on their behalf. There are circumstances in which threats are made in an effort to influence the other party's decision-making process, such as claiming that there is no way for the other spouse to prevail, and that he or she should settle before it is too late.
When facing a highly contentious divorce in which litigation is the only solution, Washington spouses should try to remain focused on the future. Divorce is a process, one that has a distinct beginning, middle and end. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and in many ways, overcoming the adversity that shades many divorces make individuals appreciate their newly single life all the more.