How to Untie the Knot, Amicably
A Guide to an Amicable Divorce
A Guide to an Amicable Divorce
Here at NameSwitch we know that not every name change is motivated by a blissful marriage. In fact, our founder Cécile, actually created NameSwitch after going through a divorce and finding the name change process to be a drawn out and draining affair. She wanted to make things simpler and less stressful for those facing a similar situation. “Simpler” and “less-stressful” are two words that don’t often accompany the word “divorce” but our goal is to sprinkle a little bit of both into realm of divorce.
Whether you find yourself in the early stages of parting-ways or the murky muddy thick of it, or perhaps you are finally out on the other side, you may be feeling an array of intense emotions or possibly you’re just breathing a simple sigh of relief – whatever stage you are in or emotions you may be feeling, our friends over at amicable have offered some brilliant advice on how to get divorced amicably, achieve the best outcome and sprinkle a little bit of harmony into the world of divorce. Check out their tips for reaching an amicable agreement.
Image by Armando Orozco from Pixabay
Take a look at where you are both at on the “emotional change curve” and plan your decision making around that. It will be much harder to make agreements (and things are more likely to escalate) when one of you is near the ‘resist’ stage.
Think about your vision for the future before you make any detailed arrangements. Having goals for your future post-divorce will help you to make decisions and define the criteria for how you will eventually choose to split assets and agree on how to co-parent your children.
The journey of divorce will throw things at you from all directions, so it’s important to understand what things you can and cannot control. For example, you can’t control how your ex feels about your divorce but you CAN control how you communicate with them.
It’s important to consider the cost involved. Take time to understand the cost of divorce and how much each method of divorcing will cost you. Whether it’s obtaining expert legal advice, help with financial matters, negotiation and mediation assistance, there are significant costs which should be accounted for.
If you’re planning on submitting a consent order, make sure you have all of the necessary information at your disposal, particularly your CETV (pension values) as this can take a long time. Having your paperwork on hand and your ducks in a row will help speed up the legal process.
It’s important to remember that staying amicable, agreeing on your arrangements and minimising any damage to your children means getting your life back quickly. Communication is essential and can lead to more amicable resolutions for the future, regardless of whether or not children are involved.
If you are going through a divorce or separation, seek out and utilise free online resources such as amicable’s blogs, The Divorce Podcast, Parenting Plan and advice forum or check out NameSwitch’s guides and blogs. Remember knowledge is power and making informed decisions is crucial!
If child custody arrangements are a part of your separation, reduce confusion and conflict by staying on the same page as your co-parent. Whilst this may be easier said than done, the co-parenting arrangements will likely always be present and by maintaining a united front you’ll make the process easier.
The impact of divorce is substantial and the longer the process is dragged out the greater the chance of falling out will be. By creating a specific timeline and sticking to it, you and your ex-partner will be able to move on to your new lives sooner.
Questions about amicable divorce? If you are considering divorce, just starting the process and or looking for expert advice, you can book a free 15-minute call to speak with an amicable divorce coach who can talk through your situation and help you begin the process of an amicable separation.
Any (or ALL) stage(s) of divorce can be unsettling, nerve-wracking, thought provoking, stressful and seemingly chaotic, however our goal, here at NameSwitch is to get you through stressful processes with a bit more ease. And the wonderful team over at amicable shares a very similar ethos!
If you have reached the place of wanting to part ways with the past and start anew, a name change is a good way to begin! There are an array of options and things to consider but NameSwitch is here to guide you through the process every step of the way. Check out our blog on name change options after divorce or separation or check out our award-winning name change toolkit if you’re ready to jump right in. We are here for you, sprinkling ease and amicable harmony into your journey wherever possible.
The average name changer notifies approximately 24 different government bodies, local authorities, and companies. Figuring out who needs what can be daunting and takes 14 hours on average! Most name changers find this process tedious and overly complicated.
NameSwitch has created a UK first and only award-winning namechange toolkit to help simplify this process. Change your name with speed and ease saving you so much time and with peace of mind that you’ll get it right first time.
In just 3 easy steps you can select who you need to notify from 700 government bodies, local authorities, and companies. You only need to enter your details once. You’ll have instant access to download your pre-populated name change letters, forms and personalised instructions ready for you to print and sign.
Need our expert advice? Why not check out our FAQs or Get in touch with our UK-based support team for a human response - we are here to help.
Dive into our practical Nameswitch guides.
Learn how to change your name on your drivers licence, on your Facebook account and how to handle updating your COVID pass along with your passport
Fancy a free name-change checklist?
Get your free name-change checklist to help you plan out all of the companies, government bodies and profiles you need to notify of your new name.
