Going through a divorce can be hard for people in Wisconsin, but there are several things that can make the process less difficult. For starters, people may want to consider hiring an attorney. Even if they do not intend to go to litigation, an attorney may be an advocate, communicating with the spouse as needed on the person’s behalf and ensuring that the person understands their rights.
Communication and transparency are important. This means being open about finances as well as needs. People should also work toward finding common ground. A less contentious divorce will be less time-consuming, less stressful and less expensive than one in which there is a great deal of conflict. Minimizing conflict may be particularly important for parents, and they might be able to do so by focusing on the best interests of the child. Even if an issue such as an affair is the reason for the divorce, spouses should try to behave respectfully toward one another throughout the process.
Self-care matters as well. Dealing with work, legal issues and child care can all become overwhelming, but it is important for people to take time for themselves. This might include finding a therapist to talk to.
There are a few situations in which trying to work cooperatively with a spouse in a divorce might not work. The other spouse might be trying to hide some assets, or there could be situations in which one parent feels that the child is unsafe with the other parent. Parents who allege this should keep in mind that parenting differences are generally not considered reason enough to limit or stop the other parent’s access to the child. However, if there is a history of domestic abuse or the other parent has substance abuse issues, it might be necessary for that parent to have supervised visitation or no visitation.
