|
 |
 |
|
"When is it worth spending the time and money to get a divorce?" Many first-time clients at a family-law office are looking for options. They are exploring the prospect of ending unhappy marriages, and the goal of their visit is to assess what options are available to them. Most clients at these first meetings are still uncertain about the path they will follow. They want to explore with a lawyer the implications and consequences of different options. The conversation always leads to an examination of what might happen to them if they choose to proceed with both separation and divorce and to a discussion of the changes in their lives they might anticipate if they take that direction. This is the stage of the discussion at which we examine both the financial and emotional costs of undertaking divorce proceedings. There are situations in which both the emotional and financial costs of divorce are of secondary importance. Making the decision to end a marriage in which there has been physical and/or emotional abuse, or addictions or infidelities, may be easier than ending a marriage without these characteristics. There are other scenarios, however, where the assessment of how to proceed is much more complex and, therefore, the decision to divorce is more difficult to determine. Separation and divorce generally attract negative aspects such as increased financial hardship, perceived embarrassment in the community, concern over the impact on children, and many other considerations. The one guiding light in the decision-making process is the one at the end of the tunnel. Will separation and divorce ultimately improve your quality of life, your peace of mind, and your feelings of self-respect? The long-term benefits must clearly outweigh the short-term difficulties, and those are the factors that will most influence your decision. << return to all articles |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| lllll l |
|
The Hope Centre for Family Law and Counselling 1881 Yonge St, Suite 504 Toronto, Ontario Phone: (416) 488-1241 Fax: (416) 488-4491 |
