Many Connecticut couples who are in the midst of divorce proceedings may bristle at the thought of remaining on good terms with their soon-to-be exes. Other couples, however, have decided to follow in Gwyneth Paltrow’s footsteps by separating through “conscious uncoupling.” This is essentially an amicable split where the two people still consider themselves to be family while they are not actually together as a couple.
More divorces are turning amicable as more divorcing spouses make use of a neutral third party known as a mediator. Traditionally, ex-couples would bring their case to the judge, who would then decide which person gets what. Utilizing a third party trained specifically to help couples work through their own agreements has the potential to reduce the cost of legal fees and quell animosity between the spouses, which is a huge advantage if there are kids involved.
There are additional advantages to an amicable divorce, particularly if children are in the mix. For example, many couples who amicably split are more likely to be able to agree on how their kids are raised and share this important responsibility. Many couples are able to make the decision to stay near each other and even relocate should one parent be offered an opportunity that benefits the ex-couple’s children.
Some family law attorneys suggest that their clients sit through a mediation session in an attempt to have a divorce that is as civil a process as possible. However, mediation is not for everyone, especially if the spouses cannot be in the same room together. If that is the case, an attorney may be able to help one spouse by negotiating with the other person’s attorney or putting the case in front of a judge if a civil agreement cannot be reached.
Source: New York Post, “Divorcing couples follow Gwyneth’s lead and ‘consciously uncouple’“, Kate Storey, May 27, 2014
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