Dating after divorce: 8 tips to help protect a child’s emotional health when mom or dad start to date
May 5, 2016Divorce Wisdom: Taking the First Steps Down the Right Path
May 16, 2016Media Contact: Mary Linton, Woll & Woll, 248.354.6070; [email protected]
Birmingham, Mich. – May 16, 2016 –Jessica Woll, managing partner of Woll & Woll, P.C., a Michigan-based divorce and family law practice specializing in complex family law issues, has more than 20 years of experience in helping couples navigate the painful process of divorce. Through her experience, she has gained numerous insights about the often unanticipated fallout from the divorce process. Woll, who blogs and tweets @DivorceWisdom, advises divorcing couples to be aware of five areas of fallout during and following a divorce.
- The decision to end a marriage will scare a lot of people, friends and family members included.
“The number one reason, believe it or not, is usually jealously,” Woll said. “Many are jealous that the parties involved have the courage to end a dissatisfying relationship, when they may feel trapped in their own relationships.”
Woll adds that humans are creatures of habit and do not like change.
“Even though divorce is a couple’s change, it impacts those around them and thus creates change for others,” Woll said. “Divorce will make many people who know the divorcing couple feel uncomfortable.”
- People want to pick a side.
“It’s human nature; friends and family will typically feel the world makes more sense if there is a ‘right’ party and ‘wrong’ party, who is ultimately responsible for the breakdown of the marriage,” Woll said. “In my experience, there is rarely a clear right or wrong when it comes to a breakup. What is true is that two people are no longer right for each other and don’t want to stay married for the wrong reasons.”
- Those divorcing will feel wronged along the way from those once considered friends.
“Use divorce as an opportunity to weed out people that are not supportive,” Woll said. “No question, divorce will truly show who one’s true friends are.”
- Nobody will understand the complex circumstances that led to the breakdown of the marriage.
“Even the divorcing spouses’ perceptions regarding the breakdown will differ wildly; it’s just that complicated.” Woll said.
- The more successful the parties are, the more attention the divorce will get from the general public.
“Small-minded people often get misguided satisfaction from other people’s hardships,” Woll said. “Insulate from the naysayers as much as possible. Do everything to keep the business of the divorce private and, by all means, keep the case out of court. Instead, use private therapists and mediators to settle any disputes when possible.”
To counter the fallout, Woll urges couples to make a pact to still treat each other as family when going through this difficult, life-changing transition.
“The parties should have each other’s backs as if they were planning to stay together,” Woll said. “This means cutting out all the third party individuals whose only intent is to take a side or use the tragedy as a piece of gossip. This behavior ultimately hurts not only the divorcing spouses, but their innocent children.”
About Woll & Woll, P.C.
Established in 1994, Woll & Woll, P.C. specializes in divorce and family law, including legal separation, post-judgment of divorce matters, removal of domicile actions, stepparent adoption, custody, child support, paternity and other family issues. Learn more at https://wollandwollpc.com.
