WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Losing weight, eating more healthfully and exercising regularly are typical resolutions people make in January. According to DC-area law firm Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell, one more is being added to the list: getting divorced.
“We see a significant increase in calls from potential clients in the new year,” said Jonathan Dana, managing partner with Feldesman Tucker’s family law practice, based in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland.
Mary S. Pence, who has practiced family law with Dana for 28 years, believes three factors motivate couples to part ways at the start of a new year:
•The prospect of making a fresh start from a crumbling marriage.
•The end of the holidays, during which couples contemplating divorce have labored to “make it through.”
•The “forced togetherness” of the holiday season, which can exacerbate an already dysfunctional marriage and drive one of the spouses to take action.
“For people who perceive that their marriage has been in a bad place for some time, the start of a new year can seem like an auspicious time to move toward something with more promise,” Pence said.
Sarah J. Zimmerman, a partner in Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell advises that separating and divorcing couples should give careful thought to the process they choose for resolving their issues and finalizing their divorce.
“Couples who choose mediation or Collaborative Law often find that with their energies and creativity channeled into constructive problem-solving rather than waging war against each other, they can achieve a better and more cost-effective divorce,” she says.
“Constructive divorce also entails providing financial security for both spouses and their children,” noted Jonathan M. Dana. “When clients put their energies into finding solutions that work for both of them and for their children in the long run,” he says, “they will likely create a more economically viable future that benefits all.
“In today’s weak housing market, for example, such an approach might mean continuing to own the home together and allowing one party to stay in the home for a time after the divorce with increased support. When the real estate market improves and the house can be sold at a higher price, the other spouse can benefit from a share in the now higher proceeds.”
Dana, Pence and Zimmerman—who have been recognized as top divorce and family law attorneys by “Washingtonian” magazine, “Best Lawyers in America,” and “Super Lawyers” —offer additional guidelines for divorcing in a positive way:
Aim for a solution-focused approach
Process options should include negotiation and Collaborative Law rather than immediately resorting to costly litigation. It is important to work with a family law attorney who understands the benefits to the client of a settlement approach and is sensitive to the emotional stresses of divorce.
Retain an experienced attorney
An experienced family law attorney will monitor and adjust the timing of the client’s case without wasting time. If the other party is in a bad place emotionally, the attorney should not push for progress in the case, but should allow time for people to regain perspective.
Be flexible and forward-looking
Financial liquidity is a very real issue for many couples in this economy. Couples will benefit from considering creative options, like setting realistic support obligations for the current situation with the option to renegotiate in the near future. “The most responsible divorce settlements ensure that clients are favorably positioned for the future,” noted Dana.
Whether divorce is a new year’s resolution or not, the family law lawyers at Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell encourage clients to be thoughtful about their decision. “It makes sense to take the time to plan carefully, especially when children are involved,” said Pence. “We work with clients to achieve the best outcome so they can make a fresh start.”
About Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell
With offices in Washington, DC and Bethesda, the family law practice of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell is consistently acknowledged by its peers as a leader in family law and handles some of the most complex and sensitive proceedings for Washington, DC area residents. Knowing that divorce affects many aspects of a client’s life, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell’s family law practice is dedicated to achieving positive outcomes that help clients move forward successfully after divorce. Learn more at http://www.feldesmantucker.com/family-law.