Saving Your Marriage: How to Stop a Divorce

Divorce is a life-altering event that can leave emotional scars on both partners and their families. However, it’s not always inevitable. If you’re looking for ways to stop a divorce, this article is for you. We’ll explore strategies and steps on how to stop a divorce.

How to Save Your Marriage

• Accept and Validate Your Partner’s Feelings. The first step in stopping a divorce is to accept your partner’s feelings without trying to change them. Validate their emotions and understand why they feel the way they do.
• Control Your Reactive Brain. During a crisis, our brains often go into a fight-or-flight mode, leading us to act irrationally. Recognise this pattern and try to be the mature, kind, and loving person your partner fell in love with.
• Work on Yourself. Before you can fix your marriage, you need to work on yourself. Create a support system of friends and family, and focus on being the best version of yourself.
• Reestablish Contact. Once you’ve given each other some space, try to reestablish contact. Focus on positive interactions and assess whether both of you are interested in working things out.
• Set New Ground Rules. Stop threatening the relationship and set new ground rules. Focus on your partner’s feelings and learn to communicate better.
• Be Willing to Change. The three words that can stop a divorce are “I will change.” Be willing to change yourself more than you want to change your partner.

Also read: Does Infidelity Affect Divorce Settlement in Australia?

The Advantages of Stopping a Divorce

Stopping a divorce isn’t just about avoiding the legal and emotional turmoil that comes with the process; it’s also about preserving and enhancing your marriage’s valuable aspects. Here are some advantages of halting the divorce train:

• Financial Stability. Divorce can be expensive, with legal fees, asset division, and potential alimony. Stopping a divorce can help maintain financial stability for both partners.
• Emotional Well-being. Divorce can take a toll on your emotional health and that of your children, if you have any. Working things out can provide emotional security and a sense of belonging.
• Family Integrity. For families with children, divorce can be particularly devastating. Stopping a divorce can help maintain a stable environment for your children, providing them with the emotional support they need.
• Personal Growth. The process of saving your marriage forces you to confront your issues, leading to personal growth. You learn better communication skills, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving abilities.
• Rekindled Love. Sometimes, the process of almost losing each other can reignite the love and passion that initially brought you together, making your relationship more robust than before.

Stopping a divorce has multiple advantages, from financial stability and emotional well-being to personal growth and rekindled love. It’s not just about avoiding the end; it’s about creating a new beginning.

Navigating through divorce proceedings within the context of family law can be a painful process. However, with concerted effort and unwavering commitment, it’s possible to work towards mending your relationship and potentially prevent the need for a divorce. By following these steps, you can aim to reconcile and heal the fractures in your relationship.

Also read: Financial Infidelity in Marriage

How to Stop Divorce After Filing

Deciding to stop divorce after filing is a major decision for many couples during a typically turbulent period in their relationship.

Whether due to one party’s reconciliation attempt or a mutual decision to give the marriage another chance, understanding the procedure to discontinue a divorce after filing is essential.

• Reconsidering the Decision to Divorce. The first step to stopping a divorce after filing involves thoroughly reassessing your decision. It is important to communicate openly with your spouse about your feelings and concerns during this time. Couples counselling or mediation may be beneficial at this stage to facilitate discussions and help both parties reach a clear and mutual decision about their future together.
• Withdrawing Your Divorce Application. If you have already lodged an application for divorce and wish to stop the proceedings, you will need to formally withdraw your application. In Australia, this is typically done by filing a Notice of Discontinuance or a similar form with the court where your divorce was filed. Taking this step as soon as possible is essential, especially if the divorce has not yet been finalised.
• Handling Legal and Financial Considerations. Stopping a divorce after filing can have legal and financial implications, particularly if you’ve already started dividing assets or making arrangements for children. It’s advisable to seek legal advice to understand the implications of halting your divorce proceedings. Legal advice can help ensure that any agreements in progress, or changes to property and parenting arrangements, are appropriately managed or reversed.
• Reconciliation and Moving Forward. Choosing to stop divorce after filing opens the door to reconciliation and rebuilding your relationship. Engaging in relationship counselling can be advantageous in addressing the underlying issues that led to the initial filing. Establishing clear goals and improving communication skills can greatly increase the likelihood of a successful reconciliation.

Also read: How Long Does a Divorce Court Hearing Last: Key Considerations

Common Reasons for Halting Divorce Proceedings After Filing

Deciding to stop divorce after filing is not uncommon and can be motivated by various factors including:

• Reconciliation and Renewed Commitment: Spouses may find that they still have strong feelings for each other and decide to work on their relationship, often with the help of professional counseling.
• Financial Considerations: The realisation of the significant financial impact of divorce, including the costs of living separately and dividing assets, can lead couples to reconsider their decision.
• Impact on Children: Concerns about the emotional and psychological well-being of children involved can motivate parents to attempt reconciliation to provide a stable family environment.
• External Pressures and Expectations: Family, cultural, or religious expectations can influence couples to explore alternatives to divorce, such as separation or counselling.
• Legal and Procedural Delays: The complexities and delays inherent in the divorce process can give couples additional time to reflect on their relationship and potentially decide against divorce.

Factors like these highlight the need for careful consideration and often, professional advice, during the divorce contemplation process.

Also read: When to Divorce: 3 Warning Signs

Legal Counsel Can Provide Clarity

Deciding to stop divorce after filing is a decision that requires careful consideration. It is paramount to seek professional advice to navigate this process effectively.

An experienced family lawyer can clarify the legal implications of stopping the divorce, ensuring that any changes underway to property and parenting arrangements are appropriately dealt with. Relationship counselling can help couples address their underlying issues and work towards a successful reconciliation.

By communicating openly with your spouse, withdrawing your application promptly and understanding the legal and financial implications of stopping the divorce process, couples can terminate the divorce process and focus on reconciliation.