Use These Tips to Communicate Better with Your Former Spouse

Many divorces are precipitated (in part) by poor communication, so it might feel unrealistic to expect good communication after a divorce is finalized. However, if the two of you have children together and will share custody, good communication is absolutely crucial to a healthy and happy life for your kids.

With this in mind, here are some tips for how you and your former spouse can keep your communication effective and civilized:

• Be civil in front of your kids: No matter how you feel about each other, you owe it to your children to work as hard as you can to get along in front of them. You are still their parents, and you must be positive role models and show them that you can still have a cordial relationship, even if you are no longer married.
• Keep communication between the two of you: Do not use your children as go-betweens or ask them to send messages to the other parent. That is unfair to them and is not their responsibility. Any communication should happen directly between the two of you.
• Determine which communication method works best: Perhaps phone calls don’t work well because you tend to drift off topic and get into arguments. In this case, texting or email might be ideal. If you need a better means of staying updated about appointments and events, try a shared calendar app, such as Google Calendar.
• Only use courts when necessary: There might be situations in which you have a former partner who is completely irrational or intolerable. The person may become abuse when speaking to you. If this is the case, seek advice from your divorce attorney regarding the best way to proceed with custody issues.

For further guidance on child custody and visitation issues after a divorce, meet with a dedicated family law attorney at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.