For some divorcing couples, it's evident that the process will be amicable from start to finish. If you find yourself in this scenario, you might have some misconceptions about how the legal process will unfold. Even though things are amicable, it's important to do everything by the book and avoid any shortcuts. After all, if you or your spouse feels as though he or she is being shorted, the amicable nature of the situation can disappear quickly. Here are some things that both you and your spouse should know, even if the situation is amicable.

You Each Need Legal Representation

It can seem sensible, given the amicable nature of the proceedings, for you and your spouse to visit a local divorce attorney and ask him or her to help you through the process. What you'll quickly learn, however, is that this is a conflict of interest for any attorney. When one person hires an attorney, he or she is bound to look out for that person's best interests legally, and this means that the attorney cannot reasonably represent both parties when they have competing interests, even if they feel amicably. You and your spouse should each seek to retain your own legal representation for this process.

It's Best To Avoid Discussing Your Legal Issues

When you and your spouse each meet with your attorneys, you might be tempted to confer afterward and share what each attorney has told you. It's understandable to want to feel this way, especially if you want to maintain a united front in spite of the difficult circumstances. However, this is a temptation that you should avoid. It's easy to say something private that your attorney has told you, only for your spouse to mention it to his or her attorney. This could lead to legal complications, perhaps because your spouse's attorney believes that you're trying to get the upper hand on your spouse.

Things Can Derail Quickly

Lots of couples start the divorce process in an amicable fashion but end up completing the divorce bitterly. It's important to know that this is a highly charged time, even if things are calm right now. Your attorney will likely advise you of a series of steps to take and some things not to do. For example, if you were to make a major purchase for your post-married life right now, your spouse could take offense of you spending the money that you share. Heed your attorney's advice to get through the process amicably.

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