November 2017
WHAT IS “DIVORCE WITH DIGNITY”?
Divorce with dignity is a core value with Christine M. Howard and her Greenville, South Carolina team of divorce attorneys. Divorce with dignity is perhaps most easily made possible by filing a no-fault divorce.
In a no-fault divorce, the spouse filing for divorce doesn’t have to prove any marital misconduct on the part of the other spouse. All a spouse has to do is give any reason that the state honors for the divorce, the most commonly given reasons being “irreconcilable differences” or an “irreparable breakdown of the marriage.” In no-fault divorce, the other spouse cannot object to the filing of the divorce, because the objection itself is viewed by the court as an irreconcilable difference.
No-fault divorce is available in every state, although some states require that spouses live apart for a specified period of time before filing for divorce.
BENEFITS OF NO-FAULT DIVORCE
Divorce is incredibly stressful, especially a litigated divorce in which private details of your life are laid out for all to see. When you choose a no-fault divorce, the marriage can be dissolved in a way that does not end in anger and embarrassment for the parties involved.
Another benefit of no-fault divorce is that it allows you and your spouse to decide for yourselves what will be in your divorce agreement. This may require mediation and will most certainly require cooperation and compromise from both spouses. But consider the alternative: when you go to divorce court, someone else gets to make those important decisions for you.
Perhaps the most important benefit of no-fault divorce is that it can lessen the negative effects that the divorce will have on the children. Children are the innocent parties in divorce. Divorce is also incredibly stressful on them, no matter what the reasons. No-fault divorce prevents the ugly, drawn-out battles between the parents that leave lasting, negative impressions on the children. Choosing no-fault divorce helps to minimize these painful effects on the children when they see their parents treat each other with dignity and respect.
WE CAN HELP
As difficult as divorce is, most divorces can be resolved amicably. However, some divorces are more complicated, making maintaining dignity harder.
At Christine M. Howard, our goal is to help our clients get through divorce while preserving everyone’s dignity. If you have any questions about divorce, contact us to book a consultation and discuss your legal options.