On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
Divorce, no matter how amicable you and your spouse attempt to make it, is going to have its share of unpleasantness and stress, both emotional and financial. For this reason, you or your soon-to-be-ex may understandably start to procrastinate divorce proceedings in an attempt (either knowingly or subconsciously) to delay the inevitable ordeal.
However, there are several reasons why postponing or prolonging a divorce procedure often complicates matters. Once you and your spouse have decided to divorce, procrastinating can make the situation even worse, not only in matters of emotional stress but in regards to financial issues as well.
The Longer You Wait…
Delaying the actual divorce proceedings after you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage may sound harmless enough, but it can lead to a number of complications, including:
- The widening of the emotional gap between you and your spouse
- The risk that your ex will find a new lover before divorce proceedings are over
- A higher likelihood of family and friend interference
- A much higher final cost overall
Both financial issues and emotional ones are likely to grow more serious as time goes on, leading to more problems and stress.
The Widening of The Emotional Gap Between You And Your Spouse
After the initial hurt feelings of panic and pain when two people begin discussing ending their marriage, many divorcing couples often realize that making the split as amicable as possible is in everyone’s best interests. As time passes, though, either spouse may lose focus on this goal and instead start seeing the ex as a competitor.
The Risk That Your Ex Will Find A New Lover Before Divorce Proceedings Are Over
Unfortunately, many divorcing individuals try to cope with the new emotional instability and pain in their lives by jumping into new relationships. While these relationships tend not to be long-term, the new romantic partner usually serves only to complicate the situation in regards to everything from child custody to asset division. The longer you drag out divorce proceedings, the higher the likelihood that one or both divorcing spouses will develop a new romantic attachment before the divorce procedure is finalized.
A Higher Likelihood of Family And Friend Interference
Friends and family usually want what’s best for you. Unfortunately, no matter how well-intentioned they are, their opinions are likely far from unbiased. The longer divorce proceedings go on, the more the potential for opinionated family and friends to get involved and complicate the situation.
A Much Higher Final Cost Overall
Divorces cost money, no matter how you go about it, and while a skilled and experienced attorney is usually worth every penny, the fact is that the longer divorce proceedings drag on, the higher the mounting legal fees. This, in turn, can lead to increased financial stress, which may cause more negative emotions, resulting in arguments and court battles, and it becomes a vicious cycle.
Don’t Delay
When you and your spouse have both come to the decision that a divorce is what’s best for both of you, a wise approach is to start the process soon and see it through to the end as quickly and cordially as you can. While your divorce may not be pleasant, by avoiding a drawn-out months’ long battle, you and your ex-spouse can at least work to keep the cost, stress, and negativity as low as possible.
When you need a Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer, you can contact us by click here or calling at 954-533-2756 for a free consultation.
