Divorce can be a confrontational process. Even when the parties to a Florida divorce are able to effectively communicate and agree on divorce-related issues, they may still have differences of opinion on matters related to the division of their property, the custody of their kids, and the payment of support. Without conflict, most divorces would not happen because the parties would be willing to stay together.
There is a difference, however, between normal divorce conflicts and high conflict cases. A high conflict case can be problematic for many reasons, and in the end, neither party to such a proceeding may benefit. When possible, Floridians can choose to work with attorneys who promote efficient and effective divorce negotiations to keep drama and conflict at a minimum.
What causes high conflict in a divorce?
There are many answers to the question of what causes high conflict during a divorce case. Anything that causes two people to fight may serve as the grounds for a high conflict matter. Common divorce issues such as child custody, child and spousal support, and property matters can turn into serious disputes with parties and their attorneys in hotly contested battles.
Some conflicts are unavoidable. Parties to divorce do not have to back down when they firmly believe that divorce proceedings are proceeding unfairly or are not taking into consideration important issues significant to their claims. However, when divorcing parties and their representatives fight for the sake of fighting, the parties rarely complete their divorces with better outcomes than they would have had if they had found more harmonious solutions to their differences.
How to avoid high conflict in a divorce case
As stated, it may be impossible to avoid all conflict in divorce. Participants to divorce proceedings should not expect peace and harmony throughout their matters. They should, however, expect to act like adults and to work with legal representatives that understand when consideration and cooperation are necessary.
As an alternative to litigated divorce, some Floridians may choose to mediate their divorce proceedings. Mediation allows two individuals who wish to divorce to work together to find common ground and compatible solutions to bring their marriage to an end. Mediation may not be an option for everyone, and not all divorce lawyers work with divorce mediation clients.
High conflict may be a sign of a problematic divorce. It takes effort to undo a marriage, but with the right representation, a divorcing party can feel confident that they approached their legal matters with responsibility and goodwill. One of the most significant steps that an individual can take toward limiting conflict in their divorce is finding an attorney who understands their needs and is willing to work to find reasonable solutions to their problems.