Your Reasons for Divorce May Not Fit the Norm

Uncontested Divorce Mediation

Posted August 22, 2019

When you’re in a marriage or long-term relationship that feels broken, there are many emotions. Among others, there are the feelings of sadness, relief, fear about the future, anxiety about resolving conflicts, and hope for a different kind of life. We know that resolving to obtain a divorce can be tough. It’s important to consider your reasons for this major life change. You have your own reasons for divorce, and they may not align with the reasons that other friends and relatives have cited for their own breakups. Common reasons for divorce mediation in Denver include infidelity, substance abuse, domestic abuse, marrying too young, and incompatibility. However, not all marriages fit this list. In this post, we examine the reality that some people end a marriage because things have changed, and they can reference no crisis or impetus for their decision. 

People Grow and Change Over Time, Together or Apart

uncontested divorce denver

Some people grow apart over time because they spend less time together. One study found the most common reasons for divorce among people who had enrolled in a mandatory parenting course were “growing apart” and “not being able to talk together.” The same couples who might have had a strong marriage in the past found this to be true and decided to end their marriage. Again, you and your spouse may not be able to point to a particular event or issue as a driving force behind separation and divorce mediation in Denver. What’s more, in this stage of life, you may both have different preferences for activities and financial management that seem incompatible. These differences may create a wedge that is harder to ignore, especially if you have “fallen out of love.” Accepting differences is easier to do in a relationship that is still strengthened by love and commitment. 

Where Is Your Life Going Now?

When considering divorce, you are making a huge decision that will have long-term repercussions for your finances and emotional well-being and for the children who lived in the household during the marriage. If you’ve fallen out of love and had enough time to think through this situation, then you may feel repairing the relationship is impossible. You are ready to move on. Regardless of your reasons for divorce mediation in Denver, they will indicate the need for a legal process, which includes separating all legal ties, including joint property and assets, and defining financial arrangements and parenting plans. These steps are not easy to take; they can create much stress in your home. Before agreeing to any terms of the divorce or a parenting plan, you need to map out your minimum acceptable conditions for the future, including the level of financial support you might require to continue in your household and the best parenting schedule for the kids. If you try to rush the divorce settlement, you could agree to terms that will not be sustainable in the future. Then, you will be stuck dealing with lasting effects on your own. Finally, it could be hard to change any unacceptable terms of the divorce without costly litigation.  

Where Do You Begin?

The courts will require that two spouses disclose their financial income, assets, and property and decide how to distribute these between themselves in the future. You will also have to outline how your minor dependents will be cared for and financially supported. Some family situations can indicate the need for a delay in the actual timing of divorce mediation in Denver. For example, there might be one parent who works and one parent who stays home. The at-home parent may need time to go back to school and train for re-employment. Meanwhile, the wage-earning parent may agree to provide an extra level of support, but only for a limited period of time. This scenario is different than situations where one parent will continue to stay at home, especially because the other parent travels for work or is not at home enough to perform parenting duties. The judge that gets assigned to your divorce case will be concerned that the children of the marriage are provided for and will reside in a stable environment. He or she will be less concerned about whether the final divorce document benefits one parent over than the other. Therefore, if you have created your list of minimum acceptable conditions, including financial and parenting details, then you can use the negotiation process to reach an agreement with your spouse. If you’re able to do this without hiring a lawyer or going to a mediation, then you and your spouse could be candidates for an uncontested divorce in Denver. We specialize in helping people who have resolved their issues to draft their paperwork and submit it to the courts for final approval. Both of your signatures on a proposed settlement agreement will indicate that you agree on all matters the family court would normally address.

Getting Started

There is no deadline that you must meet when deciding to pursue divorce mediation in Denver. However, you may have a limited time to respond to a divorce case if your spouse files first. It’s important to understand the legal process and the steps that must be taken in your state for the final outcome to be achieved. You can start by collecting all financial information, including every asset, property, and debt that you and your spouse acquired during the marriage. These will be accounts that are addressed in the marital settlement agreement. You will also need updated information about your income and your spouse’s income to determine support for minor children. There are decisions to make about where the children will reside and attend school and who will make decisions about their education and medical care. If you wish to be the person to make most or all of these decisions, keep in mind that the courts may not agree. The courts want to ensure that the children have equal access to their parents and there could be shared decision-making. In extenuating circumstances, such as when one parent decides to relocate, then the other parent may receive primary custody and decision-making power because it makes sense. When the kids will be going back and forth during the school year between two households, one parent expecting to make all the decisions would not be realistic. Learn about the legal process and determine whether you will need to hire an attorney or if you and your spouse can jointly prepare the documents jointly and submit them to the courts for approval.

Split Simple

1624 Market Street #202

Denver, CO 80202

720-501-4600