Tips to Reduce Costs and Drama During Your Divorce

At Gibbons Law Firm, we know that divorce can be hard. As family law attorneys at Lake of the Ozarks, we have seen it first hand, and we empathize with the families that go through it. Fear of the unknown can be very heavy, and the ways the divorce could affect finances, family relationships and much more can be daunting to think about. But, in our decades of experience, we have learned a few things about what can make a divorce go more smoothly, with less drama. When divorces are more streamlined, they can go quicker and be much more affordable. If you would like to hear a few tips on how you can reduce the cost and complexity of your divorce, we wrote this blog for you.

Set Your Mind on the End Goal

Because of the emotional nature of a divorce, it can be very easy to get sidetracked or focused on who is right and wrong. But ultimately, your purpose at the end of the process is that you are able to move forward to the next chapter of your life. You are trying to get out of the situation you’re in so you can move on to something better. When you realize that you know this is not the time to prove who is at fault or a process designed to resolve the issues in your relationship. The more you can focus on what position you need to be in to move forward and doing what you can do to help make that happen, the better. If you get focused on all the reasons you and your soon-to-be ex don’t get along, it can be a major distraction from your goal. So, try to stay away from bringing up all the wrongs of the past, and set yourself up for success in the future by focusing on your end goals throughout the divorce process.

Communicate Your Purpose Clearly

Once your mindset is on the end goal, try to keep all of your communications about that goal. Everything should lead back to the goal of moving forward with a fair settlement. Obviously, some couples are past the point of being able to communicate well because of all they’ve been through. But if you have an amicable relationship in any way and are able to communicate with your spouse what your position is and what you are seeking, it can help diffuse the emotions and avoid the time and energy wasted in rehashing the past. That can make your divorce go much more quickly and be less costly. If you are unable to communicate with your spouse in a productive way, that is what your attorney is for. A skilled divorce attorney will listen to your goals and be able to communicate them effectively and negotiate with your spouse or their attorney to help advocate for you and represent your wishes as he works to negotiate your divorce settlement.

Find the Common Ground

Even if you have to be the better person, it is going to be much easier if you are able to come to an agreement with your spouse. If the courts have to decide for the two of you, they will look into numerous factors. These can include income, earning potential, spending habits, and more. As you might imagine, this makes things more complicated and drawn out. That is usually not conducive to a less expensive process. If you let yourself get stuck on getting everything that you want, you may be paying more for it than is actually worth to you. Now is the best time to set emotions aside and look for an agreement that you believe your spouse would be willing to accept, that you know you can live with. The more you have a business mindset when you are approaching your divorce proceedings, The more effective you may be in achieving your end goals and avoiding the drama (and cost).

Make it Easier on Yourself with Help from Gibbons Law Firm

Our divorce attorneys in mid-Missouri want this difficult process to be as easy as possible for you and your family. We know that the outcome of this proceeding will have a direct effect on many aspects of your life. We are here to be your advocate and help you through the process, and we have the experience and empathy to do that effectively. If you are in the planning stages of a divorce in Central Missouri and would like to learn more about where you stand, and what your rights are, we offer free initial consultations at our Lake Ozark law firm. Just give us a call to get on the schedule. We look forward to meeting you and learning more about your situation and how we can help. If you are interested in hearing more helpful legal information from Gibbons Law Firm, we invite you to follow us on our social media channels. We have links below to make it easy.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

Follow us on...

• Facebook
• LinkedIn

 

Low-Cost No-Drama Divorces ARE Possible: Here is How

If you are in the planning stages of going through a divorce, we know there’s a lot to consider. It can be overwhelming at times, especially when you start thinking about the uncertainty of the future. There are a lot of variables on how the divorce may go, and those variables can affect your daily life. On top of that there’s the emotion of the broken relationship and how that could potentially affect family relationships as well. At Gibbons Law Firm, we are very sensitive to how difficult it is to go through a divorce. We also are experienced enough to know there are some ways that you can make it easier on yourself, and achieve a more successful outcome. In this week's blog, we want to share with you a few tips to keep in mind that could potentially make your divorce go more smoothly, and therefore be quicker and more affordable in the long run. To hear what they are, just keep reading. 

Decide for yourself

It is usually best for the couple to be able to work out the outcome of the divorce together, rather than letting the courts do it. If the court gets involved, it will look at a number of different things to decide how your assets are divided as well as custody issues. The court will look at things such as your income, each spouse's earning potential, and how both of you handle your finances during the marriage. This can lead to a complicated, drawn out, and potentially expensive process. Although it may not be 100% to your liking, if you have a mindset to look for common ground and to look for a mutually agreeable conclusion, it may be better for you in the end. Obviously, if you are getting a divorce, there may be some difficulty in working out disagreements, but in the long-run it can save both you and your estranged spouse the time and cost of letting the court make that decision. So there is incentive for both parties to make the effort to work together. 

Consider Your Goals

At the end of the process, your goal is to be divorced, to walk away with a fair settlement, and to be able to move forward in life in a positive way. Sometimes, people are so hurt that they react to the divorce process as though it is an opportunity to prove who is right and wrong, or seek vindication. But the divorce process is not about that. No matter how valid they may be, if you focus on all the reasons you’re getting divorced, and the things that were unfair and hurtful to you, it can actually be a major hindrance to your goal of walking away with a fair settlement. The key is to approach your divorce proceedings with more of a business mindset, and a focus on what you want the end outcome to be. It’s not about digging up past wrongs, it is about setting the stage for your future.

Communicate Clearly and Purposefully

This one can be a challenge, but can be so important when it comes to a successful outcome. Again, this is not a time to think about all the reasons you’re getting divorced. It is about finding a path forward. So, if you can keep your communication clear and focus on the purpose of your end goal, it is more likely to go peacefully and smoothly. Obviously, in some divorces, the relationship is so strained, it can make that kind of communication almost impossible. But that is what your divorce attorney at Lake of the Ozarks is for. Instead, communicate clearly with your attorney, let your attorney know your purpose and what you would like to achieve as an end goal. A skilled attorney can then negotiate with your spouse or their attorneys to help you achieve that purpose. When you’re able to clearly state your position and avoid rehashing the same painful issues, your attorney can take that and fight on your behalf. So stay focused on the path forward, and let your attorney structure your divorce settlement with those purposes in mind.

Gibbons Law Firm is Here to Help You Through

Our divorce attorneys in mid-Missouri know that this is a difficult time for you, and we want to help make it as easy as possible. We also want to help you set yourself up for success in your future endeavors. We have learned from experience that having the right mindset and communication style can make or break the outcome of your divorce. If you are facing a divorce in the near future, we want you to know that we offer free initial consultations at our law office in Lake Ozark. We will be more than willing to sit down with you, talk about your goals, your rights, and what you want to achieve in your divorce agreement. Just give us a call at (573) 348-2211 to schedule a free consultation. Don't forget to follow us on our social media channels using the links below to stay in touch and hear more information and helpful legal tips from Gibbons Law Firm.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

Follow us on...

• Facebook
• LinkedIn

 

3 Tips for a Quicker and More Streamline Divorce

Going through a divorce is usually a very stressful and emotional time for most people. Not only is it the end of a relationship, but there are a ton of unknowns regarding the future and how things will actually go in the divorce proceeding itself. Not knowing if it will go smoothly or be a long and drawn-out battle is a terrible feeling. But there are things you can do to help reduce the unknowns and come to an agreement that you know you can live with. Our divorce attorneys at Lake of the Ozarks have a few tips to help you through your divorce process in a way that can help it go more quickly and peacefully. In so many ways it is about mindset. If you are trying to reduce the stress, expense, and conflict while going through your divorce proceedings, keep reading this blog for three tips from Gibbons Law Firm.

1) Be Proactive

When you leave it up to the Court to decide the outcome of your divorce, it will look at multiple factors to decide how things should be handled and divided. That could include things such as your income, how each of you handled your finances while you were married, each spouse’s earning potential, and more. That might result in a more drawn-out and expensive process for you. It is usually best when a couple can agree on how things will be split rather than let the court get involved. That means the more of a mindset you have to look for common ground or mutually agreeable conditions, the more likely it will be that you can arrive at a consensus between you and your estranged spouse and save yourself the time and cost of the court having to decide for you.

2) Focus On the End Results

It can be very hard not to think about all the emotional reasons you are getting divorced and aspects that you think are unfair and hurtful. But none of that helps when it comes to creating a divorce agreement that you can live with. If you are able to approach divorce negotiations with more of a business mindset, and a focus on the end outcome and not past wrongs, you may increase your chances for achieving that outcome. Do your best to be professional and fair. Don’t look at the process as a way of deciding who is right and wrong but a path to the future you are ready to start. 

3) Set a Positive Tone with Communication

Clear and purposeful communication makes all the difference in the world when it comes to your divorce proceeding. Again, this is not about why you’re getting divorced, but how you and your spouse can move forward in the most positive way. If you are able to visualize a feasible and fair path forward, and not be focused on your grievances, it is likely to go more peacefully. Sometimes the energy between a couple can make clear and purposeful communication impossible. If that’s the case, you want to communicate clearly with your attorney with that same mindset, and let your attorney take care of negotiations with your spouse and his or her attorney. Communicate your position clearly and avoid dragging out the process by rehashing the same issue over and over. Stay focused on your end goal and let your attorney structure the settlement with those purposes in mind.

Although none of this is easy, as divorce attorneys in mid-Missouri, we know from experience that the more you can decide things between yourselves, the smoother and more peaceful your divorce will be, and less expensive. Even in high-stakes divorces, our Lake Ozark law firm has seen couples work out agreements between themselves, but it could take more time if the situation is complicated. At our law office in Lake Ozark, we know that going through a divorce is difficult, and you may have a lot of questions. We do offer free initial consultations and would be happy to sit down with you and talk with you about what your rights are and how to go about achieving what you want in your divorce agreement. Give us a call at (573) 348-2211 to schedule your appointment. For more information and helpful hints regarding legal topics and seeking legal advice at Lake of the Ozarks, be sure to follow us on our social media channels using the links below.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

Follow us on...

• Facebook
• LinkedIn

How to Make Your Divorce as Quick and Peaceful as Possible

At Gibbons Law Firm we know that going through a divorce is a trying time full of emotions.  Not knowing how things are going to go – whether things will go relatively smoothly or turn into a long and expensive battle – certainly adds to the stress.  As divorce attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks, we have learned a few things that can go a long way towards helping you get through your divorce more quickly and with less conflict. If you are interested in knowing how to make the divorce process quicker and hopefully less painful, today’s blog is for you.  If you are looking to file for divorce and need an experienced divorce attorney in Mid-Missouri to guide you, call us at 573-348-2211.  We know how to help you through this tough time.

Try to Come to a Solution on Your Own 

The more a couple is able to work out a solution on their own the better the outcome usually is for everyone.  If you and your spouse are not able to come to an agreement, then it will be left up to the Court to decide.  That will involve the Court looking at a number of different factors such as each person’s earning potential, current income, how each spouse handled their finances during the marriage, etc. That can obviously become more labor-intensive and lead to decisions that perhaps neither spouse actually agrees with.  By far the best scenario is for you and your spouse to come to a fair and agreeable decision to you both without getting the Court involved.  

Be Business-Minded

The entire discussion of how to end the marriage and divide assets fairly can trigger a lot of feelings, especially if you feel you have been put at a disadvantage because of how you were treated in the marriage.  Make it your goal to be professional and fair.  This is no time to let your emotions take over.  Keep in mind your alternative is to let the Court determine the outcome and that can create a lot more variables and unknowns.  If you can approach the negotiations more like a business meeting than a battle for justice, your chances for a successful outcome increase significantly.

Communicate with Purpose

Clear and purposeful communication can totally set the tone for the entire process during your divorce. This is not about all the reasons you are done with the relationship or all the ways you have been wronged.  At this point, you and your spouse should be focused on HOW to move forward in the most positive way possible. Considering that you did not get married expecting for it not to work, remembering at one point this person is someone you loved, the more you can visualize and communicate a fair and reasonable path forward and avoid re-hashing grievances the more quickly and peacefully it will go.  

If the energy between you and your spouse makes that impossible, communicate with your attorney with the same mindset and let your attorney work through the negotiation.  Once you have stated your position, try to avoid going back and readdressing the same issue as that can drag out the entire process and potentially force negotiations back to square one.  So stay focused on the future and let your attorney help you structure and negotiate for that end.

We hope you find this information helpful.  We don’t wish divorce on any couple.  But if you find yourself facing a divorce, we want to make it as quick and painless as possible.  Unfortunately, some divorces may be more complicated if they involve children, businesses, or a lot of joint assets.  It may take more time to work out the agreements in such cases.  But at Gibbons Law Firm, we have learned that even in a high stakes divorce, being able to bring your own solutions and having a mindset to be fair, responsive and clear in your communication can be very helpful in making your divorce more timely even (or especially) in a high stakes divorce.  For more information on how to get the process started and how to achieve the most positive results, our law office in Lake Ozark offers free consultations.  Contact us at (573) 348-2211 to schedule your appointment.  Follow our social media channels for more helpful hints and information regarding the law and seeking legal advice at the Lake of the Ozarks.  

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

Follow us on...

• Facebook
• LinkedIn