When people divorce, the trauma comes first. In this country we often put the cart before the horse. It is no different with divorce. People run to lawyers to get their problems fixed. Unfortunately for most, the main result is the client puts the lawyer's kids through college and not their own.
Lawyers are mostly good people, don't let me steer you wrong there. The problem is that the lawyers should be bringing up the rear, once people have their heads screwed on straight about their emotions and their finances. The first place most divorcing couples out to arrive at is the doorstep of the marriage and family therapist, or social worker. These highly trained professionals can help people work through their emotions. For most people, reducing the hurt, the anxiety, and simmering down their confrontational attitudes will result in a much happier life, even without their current mate.
Further, reducing the tendency to go tit-for-tat or an eye-for-an-eye has two tremendous benefits. When children are involved, even divorced families have a lifetime together ahead of them. There will be school graduations, weddings, and even grandchildren. So the first benefit is the ability to continue to communicate as a family, or at least without warring every time people lay eyes on one another.
The second tremendous benefit of cooler heads is that you'll not only save tons of money, but you won't have to worry about where all the money is going to come from, and where all of it goes.
In the next posting we'll discuss more about cash flow and some pitfalls to watch out for.
