While you may have your own reasons for postponing the divorce process, “Delaying is costly, causes financial frustration and ruins mediations. …Time is money,” according to a Huffington Post article entitled “Delaying a Divorce Procedure Is Like Creating a Time Bomb.”
The longer you put off your divorce, the more hours the attorney, mediators and other professionals who are helping you will spend on continual meetings and phone calls, and the higher the bills. The continuing financial frustration can amplify the negative emotions around divorce procedures, and can damage the fairness of even the most caring spouses.
There are people who delay their divorces indefinitely—for a lifetime. Warren Buffett remained amicably married to his wife after they separated in 1977 until her death in 2004, although he lived with another woman for decades, reported the New York Times. “We understand the expeditious voyage from separation to divorce, the desire for a clear-cut ending that makes way for a clear-cut beginning,” wrote Pamela Paul. “But couples that stubbornly remain separated, sometimes for years? That leaves us dumbfounded.” She refers to them as “the un-divorced.”
Not surprisingly, the chief motive for separating but remaining married is financial. It can be very challenging for couples that have already agreed they are done with their marriage to navigate the financial complexities of joint taxes, rights to pensions, Social Security and health insurance. These issues can foster feelings of inertia that make it even harder to get on with a divorce.
Paul cited the case of a mother of two who had stayed separated for nearly two years. She and her husband were in new relationships, but when she thought about health insurance and the desire to avoid legal fees, she said, I feel like we could just drift on like this for years.”
One benefit of delaying divorce for some people is that staying married provides an excuse for not remarrying. Conversely, meeting a person you want to spend the rest of your life with can accelerate your decision to divorce.
The seasoned family law and divorce lawyers at the McGrath Law Firm, founded by attorney Peter McGrath, will walk you through every step of the challenging divorce process to address your concerns and achieve your goals as efficiently as possible. From spousal support, child support, fault, and equitable division of property and debt to valuations, pre-nuptial agreements, and restraining orders, the experienced attorneys at McGrath Law Firm have a successful track record in all aspects of divorce law. Call us to schedule your consultation at (800) 283-1380.