Earlier this week, we began a discussion about some potential advantages and disadvantages to seeking a quick divorce settlement. Recently, many Denver residents have been following the news for updates on the divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, who have reportedly already reached a settlement.
In a recent Huffington Post article, divorce blogger Lois Tarter shares her belief that a quick and amicable divorce is the best approach, and that it should be the goal of every divorcing couple.
In our last post, we shared her arguments that a quick divorce and a clean break may be painful, but it allows you to move on more quickly and is ultimately healthier than drawing out your grief.
This may be true for some people, but not every person can or should move at this pace. Divorce almost inevitably inspires feelings of grief, sadness and opportunities for personal reflection. Attempts to rush through this process or to dismiss your emotional needs could hurt you later, both psychologically and financially.
The financial damage could come in the form of hastily or irrationally agreeing to a divorce settlement that is unbalanced and does not reflect your best interests. In her article, the author argues that a quick and amicable divorce will save you money because you won't be spending as much money on attorney fees.
Again, this argument makes sense on the surface, but there are some important caveats to mention. It is true that an unnecessarily contentious divorce could result in wasted time and money fighting over unimportant matters.
However, a divorce settlement must primarily be viewed as a business deal; it is a negotiation that could determine your financial future for years to come; perhaps even for the rest of your life.
Just as no two couples are exactly alike, no two divorces will follow the exact same time table and reach the same outcome. Some couples are able to reach a fair and balanced divorce settlement quickly, but this may be the exception rather than the rule. If you had to choose between doing it quickly and doing it correctly, which would you prefer?
Source: Huffington Post, "Make Divorce Settlement Not War," Lois Tarter, July 18, 2012
Source:
http://www.denverfamilylawyerblog.com/2012/07/could-all-divorces-be-as-quick-as-the-cruise-holmes-split-part-ii.shtml
via The News from http://celebritiessplit.blogspot.com