A dissolution in Ohio is a legal process in which a married couple agrees to end their marital relationship without going through litigation (known as a “contested” divorce). The cooperative process of dissolution is generally cheaper, easier and faster than a divorce. Since the process relies on cooperation between both parties, there are no “winners” or “losers,” and that tends to make both parties happier with the outcome.
But, what if your spouse isn’t exactly on board with the whole process? No matter what, ending a marriage can bring up some pretty hard feelings, and that can make it hard for a couple to cooperate long enough to pull their joint petition together. Here are some tips that may help you keep everybody’s emotions under control and the cooperative spirit in place:
Be smart about your in-person contacts
Maybe you want someone to come along with you during custody exchanges – but don’t take your sibling if they don’t get along with your spouse, and leave your mother at home if she’s likely to berate your spouse for their behavior. Find someone who is either neutral or willing to be pleasant and polite to keep you company.
Keep all your conversations civil
Whether you’re in-person or communicating via email or text, keep every word civil. If your spouse tries to provoke you or just gets angry, take a big step back and say something like, “I think it would be better to table this conversation until later.” Ugly words and accusations can turn a formerly cooperative spouse into one who is very uncooperative, very fast.
Be willing to negotiate and compromise
One huge benefit of a dissolution over a divorce is the fact that both parties may feel like they have more control over the issues that are most important to them, like child custody and the division of the marital property. Couples who choose this route are certainly able to tailor their agreements in ways that the court won’t – but both parties need to be flexible. If you go into the process with a list of demands and you don’t budge, that’s going to derail the dissolution.
If you’re unsure if a dissolution is right for you, legal guidance can help you understand more.