Keep It On Friendly Terms: 3 Tips To Help You Decide If An Amicable Divorce Is Right For You

You and your spouse have decided to put an end to your marriage. You've tried everything you can to save the marriage, but it's not going to work. Now, you want to have an amicable divorce. While an amicable divorce sounds good on paper, it's not for everyone. Here are three signs that will help you decide if you and your spouse should try to proceed with an amicable divorce.

There's No Blame

It's hard to end a marriage without placing blame somewhere. It's normal to want to point fingers and blame the other party when a marriage ends. If you and your spouse have been able to discuss the demise of your marriage without placing blame, an amicable divorce may be possible for you. When working towards an amicable divorce, it's important that you and your spouse be able to look forward rather than backwards – especially when it comes to past mistakes or problems that led to the break-up.

You Can Both Negotiate Respectfully

When it comes to negotiating a divorce settlement, if you want to keep things amicable, you have to be willing to treat each other with respect. It's also important that you be willing to actively engage in meaningful discussions pertaining to all aspects of the divorce settlement including the division of assets and debts, as well as custody issues – if you have children. Some rules you should follow during the negotiating process include:

• Actively listening to the other party
• Take the other parties concerns seriously
• Setting personal differences aside

You Both Place the Needs of Your Children First

If you have children, it's important that you put their needs first. This is particularly important if you're working towards an amicable divorce. Custody issues can turn volatile when both parties don't put the needs of the children first. By working together for the good of your children, you're recognizing that their needs must come first. You're also creating a solid foundation for successful co-parenting. Working together for the good of the children will help you establish custody and visitation plans that will allow them to have a healthy and loving relationship with both parents.

If you and your spouse are working towards an amicable divorce, you need to make sure that you can put aside hurt feelings. The information provided above will help you decide if an amicable divorce is the best option for you. If you have questions regarding amicable divorces, be sure to speak to an attorney near you.