Communicating During an Uncontested Divorce in Florida

by: Jeff Miller

Look, getting divorced isn’t easy. If you’re splitting from your spouse, chances are the two of you don’t see eye to eye on a number of things. There’s also a pretty good chance that you two don’t like each other right now. Emotions are running high. That’s understandable. But if you let your emotions get the best of you, it will only serve to make your divorce that much more difficult. 

Despite how you feel about your spouse, it’s important to remember that good communication is the key to a smooth divorce. Here are some basic tips to help you communicate properly during your uncontested divorce in Florida. 

The first thing you need to focus on is being civil. Even if you absolutely loathe your spouse, you need to keep it as civil as possible when communicating with one another. Stay focused on your message, and watch your tone. A negative tone or bad attitude can cause your spouse to ignore what you’re saying and instead focus on starting a fight. 

And whatever you do, don’t resort to name-calling. That will get you nowhere fast. Don’t insult your spouse or do anything that you know will cause things to get ugly. Your goal is to minimize the drama so you can get divorced quickly and easily. 

It’s also a good idea to know what you’re going to talk about before you make contact with your spouse. Setup an itinerary (e.g. “Today, we’re going to talk about child custody.”) and stick to it. Stay focused on the message and the task at hand. This keeps the conversation from veering off topic to a subject that will cause a fight. 

Of course, communication goes both ways. It’s not enough to be a good talker; you need to be a good listener too. When communicating with your spouse, give that person your full attention. Don’t let yourself get distracted. Otherwise, you could miss something important. 

Don’t interrupt your spouse either. If you start interrupting, it will lead to a struggle, and you’ll get nowhere fast. You’ll have your chance to talk. Respect the speaker. Listening doesn’t mean you agree. 

Need an incentive to communicate peacefully with your spouse during a divorce? If the two of you can’t communicate properly and work things out, your lawyers will have to do it for you. And when that happens, you’ll pay for it. You’ll get charged for your attorney’s time during all of the negotiations. This could cost you hundreds of dollars per hour. 

But that’s not all. If you and your spouse are unable to reach agreements regarding property distribution, child custody and support, and other important issues, the court could end up deciding upon these things for you. And when that happens, there’s a good chance you won’t be satisfied with the outcome. That’s why it’s in your best interest to keep the lines of communication open during your divorce. 

Isn’t it worth swallowing your pride and putting aside your emotions to communicate civilly with your spouse?