How to Deal With an Unwanted Divorce
You may not have anticipated your spouse filing for divorce, but that does not mean you should ignore it. Even if you did not know your spouse was unhappy in your marriage, you need to address the divorce. In Minnesota, the divorce system is no-fault. This means that a marriage may be dissolved if either party wants to end the marriage – you do not both need to agree.
Even if you want to work on your relationship, it is important to seek legal guidance to help you through the situation. Because your spouse has taken the steps to end the marriage in a no-fault state, you need to take affirmative steps to address the legal ramifications of divorce. Ignoring this situation will not make it go away. Your spouse will have a Minneapolis divorce attorney who is serving his or her best interests and you need to protect your interests as well.
In the divorce process, there are typically three main areas that need to be addressed:
- property division of all assets and debts;
- parenting plan if children are involved; and
- spousal maintenance or alimony.
When you do not want the divorce, it can be particularly emotional and scary to work deal with these types of decisions. A good Twin Cities attorney can help guide you through the process and support you emotionally, so you have time to work through the emotional and financial impacts of divorce. A good attorney can also help you determine the best process for divorce. Even if your spouse has already started the litigation process by filing papers in Court, you can both decide to try more non-adversarial processes, like collaborative law and mediation to try and settle your case together.
Do not let the fact that the divorce is unwanted or comes as a surprise hinder you. An experienced, knowledgeable attorney will work for you and help you focus on your needs and what is in your best interest and the best interests of your children. Your Twin Cities divorce attorney will be able to step back and view the situation without the anger and resentment that may be overwhelming you.
