Communicating with your spouse during divorce can help you have a smooth and less stressful process. However, with the sensitivity of divorce, you and your spouse can easily have misunderstandings. Therefore, it’s vital to know how to communicate with each other to avoid conflict.
Here are four tips to consider:
1. Be calm
Always be calm every time you communicate with your soon-to-be ex-spouse. If they contact you when you are tired or upset, politely inform them to reach out later. Doing this can save you from saying things that can complicate your divorce. If you and your spouse disagree during a conversation, you can end it and resume when both of you are calm.
2. Agree on what to communicate
You and your spouse should list the topics you can discuss during your divorce to avoid unnecessary communication. Besides setting boundaries on what to discuss, you should ensure any message you convey is brief, polite and informative.
3. Choose a mode of communication
Agree on how to contact each other in different situations. You can use phone calls during emergencies, text messages when sending reminders or short requests and email when sending non-urgent details or requests.
When discussing matters that can directly impact the decisions made in your divorce, whether urgent or non-urgent, consider using written modes of communication, as they can be easily documented.
4. Actively listen to your spouse
You should actively listen to your spouse and allow them to finish their thoughts. Constantly interrupting them can lead to conflicts. If you disagree with your spouse’s viewpoint on a matter, respectfully inform them without cutting them short.
Going through a divorce can result in many disputes that could have been avoided by effective communication. Legal guidance can help you be on the same page with your spouse while protecting your interests.