Many people believe that amicable divorce is a myth do to the level of conflict inherent in disentangling two lives. While getting divorced amicably takes a real commitment from both parties and isn’t always easy, it does deliver many benefits that should not be overlooked and that will facilitate a smoother transition for everyone involved:
1- Save money: amicable divorces tend to be much cheaper and quicker than litigated ones
2- Preserve your mental health and reduce emotional strain: research shows that conflict and uncertainty create significant stress. Beyond the grief that we experience during divorce, litigation also brings along a large amount of anxiety, destruction and hurt.
3- Maintain a decent relationship with your ex: by divorcing without litigation, there is often less anger and resentment, therefore helping to preserve a degree of civility between the former spouses.
4- Protect your children: research dating as far back as the 1970’s shows that it is not the divorce in itself that hurts children but the parental conflict it leads to.
5- Set yourself up for the long term: by learning to collaborate with your soon-to-be-ex at this stage, you are setting stronger foundations for effective co-parenting and dispute resolution later on.