Celebrity divorce stories are seemingly an everyday occurrence. The latest break-up to hit the tabloids and the internet gossip sites is that of the world-famous Hollywood couple, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. In their story, we can see one of the key reasons to consider mediation when going through a divorce, even for regular citizens of British Columbia.
The two actors have both stated publicly how important their children are to them. That said, it may be interesting to see what role the children play during the divorce proceedings. For many couples, children can become unwitting pawns during a separation.
For couples splitting up, however, the well-being of any children should be a priority. Parental duties persist, even after marital responsibilities have ended. As one expert points out, even after a divorce, ex-spouses must still share space with each other at events for the children such as birthdays, graduations and even weddings. Doing so after contentious litigation could be very uncomfortable for everyone involved.
Emotions sometimes run high during a divorce, and this can lead to fighting. Protracted court battles may seem like the only way to ensure one gets what he or she feels is fair, and they can also be used to further upset the other person. It is good to remember that a family doesn’t end when a marriage does. It is possible to have a healthy family life after divorce if everyone involved has their feelings treated with respect during the process. Mediation with the help of a family law firm familiar with divorce law in British Columbia might be the best way to achieve this goal.
Source: parade.com, “Divorce Watch: What Can We Learn from the Jolie-Pitt Journey?“, Dr. Nancy Berk, Sept. 21, 2016