We are in the midst of “divorce season" and The Doctors welcome experts to discuss how to make a painful separation easier, less expensive and they share what to avoid when you end a marriage.
The first 3 months of the year, January through March, see higher rates of couples separating for good, something divorce attorney Sonia Micciche knows all too well, as she ended her marriage during the season. She says she was in a toxic marriage and she upended her life, packed up her belongings and her cat, and moved out.
"I started with nothing again, but for me, it was fighting for my happiness again," she shares.
The divorce lawyer tells The Doctors that many couples remain together longer than they should out of financial concerns, and many believe divorce will cost too much money. A common misconception is a divorce will cost anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000, but she notes if the divorce is amicable, it can cost much less than $15,000.
Of course, a split can be emotional and filled with anger, but she suggests if each party can keep the accusations and antics in check during the process of ending the relationship, it will not only be less stressful and taxing on your wellbeing, it could also speed up the process and help cut down on the cost.
As for those considering divorce right now in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, psychiatrist Dr. Ish Major warns now is not the time to make this major life decision.
"Unless you are in imminent physical danger and in an abusive situation... don't make that decision with less emotional and financial bandwidth... press pause until one or both of those areas clear up," he says, suggesting that couples thinking of divorcing right now should have an independent third party, like a couple's or relationship counselor, help you through this time.
Get more divorce resources from Divorceify, a guide to ending a marriage, which can help you save time, money, and possibly reduce your divorce stress.
Watch: Busting Myths about the Cost of Divorce
Watch: What You Want to Avoid in Your Divorce
