Divorce is a BIG decision. Perhaps a bigger decision than the requisite marriage was because things, aside from feelings of love & devotion, have changed. Whereas the marriage was a mutual decision where both Parties, alone, joined in the desire to marry and the planning and procedures that accompany that decision, with divorce the decisions are often adversarial and far reaching. Often times other interests beyond those of only the Parties are involved, such as children and sometimes even new partners, that impact the decision making process. That being said, the decision to divorce should not be made impulsively, recklessly, or without a great deal of thought and reflection.
If you are considering divorce, it would serve you well to gather as much information as you can about the process. This information can come from many sources: talk to you family and friends; ask questions; read books; look at online articles and blogs; actually go to the Probate and Family Court in your jurisdiction to observe hearings and trials that are often open to the public; and finally, consider speaking to an attorney.
Divorce, although a legal process, also involves a mental or emotional process. Divorce is often emotionally charged, and you may find that it is appropriate, if not necessary, to seek professional counselling and support during all stages, including the initial decision to divorce. It is not necessary that this initial counselling be mutual. Individual counselling can also help.
The goal in preparing for divorce is to gain control during the process which can potentially make the experience less stressful and even less painful. Often times having knowledge of the expectations regarding what you will experience both personally and legally (both practically and procedurally) can alleviate a lot of the stress that accompanies divorce.
If you need the assistance of a family law attorney, contact Stevenson, Lynch & Owens, P.C. at (781)741-5000 to schedule a free consultation. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you personally to discuss your case.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. You are invited to contact the office. Contacting the office does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to the office until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. This blog is considered an advertisement. The Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct broadly govern all advertisements and communications made by attorneys and law firms in the state. Generally, legal websites and any other content published on the internet by lawyers are considered a type of communication and an advertisement, according to the Comments to Rule 7.2.
Josey Lyne Payne, Esq. 