Divorce is a tough situation for everyone. And how you handle your divorce will be based on the specifics of your situation. Some decide that laughter is the only way through. For others, it’s a lot of tears or just hanging out with friends, or seeking the advise of a therapist. In any case, knowing that others have gone before you down the path of divorce can often help. Henceforth, we bring you some famous divorce quotes.
Famous Divorce Quotes
“The ceremony took six minutes. The marriage lasted about the same amount of time, though we didn’t get a divorce for almost a year.” – Hedy Lamarr
“In Hollywood, an equitable divorce settlement means each party getting fifty percent of the publicity.” – Lauren Bacall
“A lot of people have asked me how short I am. Since my last divorce, I think I’m about $100,000 short.” – Mickey Rooney
“In Hollywood, an equitable divorce settlement means each party getting fifty percent of the publicity.” – Lauren Bacall
“Getting divorced just because you don’t love a man is almost as silly as getting married just because you do.” – Zsa Zsa Gabor
“I’d marry again if I found a man who had $15 million and would sign over half of it to me before the marriage and guarantee he’d be dead in a year.” – Bette Davis
“Anybody who’s been through a divorce will tell you that at one point they’ve thought murder. The line between thinking murder and doing murder isn’t that major.” – Oliver Stone
“When you break up, your whole identity is shattered. That’s why it’s like death. It is a death.” – Dennis Quaid
“I’m very grateful that I had work to do. I may have thrown myself off a building.” – Madonna
“I hate failure and that divorce was a Number One failure in my eyes. It was the worst period of my life. Neither Desi nor I have been the same since, physically or mentally.” – Lucille Ball
“Divorce isn’t the child’s fault. Don’t say anything unkind about your ex to the child, because you’re really just hurting the child.” – Valerie Bertinelli
“To get over my divorce, I got a prescription to live at the Playboy Mansion for a while.” – James Caan
“There’s something about a divorce in that even if your parents still love you, the fact that they can’t live with each other makes you feel there’s something wrong with you.” – Jack Black
“It was a long time in the making, my divorce. One day became less special than the [one before], and pretty soon we ceased all conversation. It is a sad day when you have nothing left to say.” – Ricki
“My parent’s divorce and hard times at school, all those things combined to mold me, to make me grow up quicker. And it gave me the drive to pursue my dreams that I wouldn’t necessarily have had otherwise.” – Christina Aguilera
“There’s nothing like a family crisis, especially a divorce, to force a person to re-evaluate his life.” – Michael Douglas
“Take this marriage thing seriously—it has to last all the way to the divorce.” – Roseanne Barr
“Divorce is a game played by lawyers.” – Cary Grant
Why You Should Work with an Attorney
While Cary Grant may have a cynical view of attorneys, it’s always advised that you work with an attorney.
Sure, some simple divorces can be handled through a simple process. But when is divorce ever truly “simple”? That’s why most divorces require at least some form of counseling or legal advice. That’s when you’ll want to turn to an attorney that can walk you through the process. Here’s a little bit of information on what the divorce process is.
The Divorce Process
The necessary steps for obtaining your divorce will be dependent on the particulars of your relationship. The dissolution of a marriage in which the parties have been married for a short period of time, have no children, and little property or debts will most likely be less involved than a divorce where the couple has been married for a long period of time, shares minor children, or where there is significant property or debt to be divided. The question of if both parties are seeking the divorce will also determine the ease at which they are granted that divorce. A partner not wanting the divorce might respond in a way that allows them to prolong the process. If a couple can both agree to the divorce the process can be much smoother and quicker. This also applies to the agreement process because if a couple is bogged down with fighting and disagreements over everything, the process will be much slower.
Petition for Divorce
To start the divorce process one of the spouses must file a petition. Even if both spouses are in agreement, one of them will have to file a petition with the court asking for the divorce. This petition states the grounds for the divorce. These vary from state to state. California is a no-fault state, meaning no fault is placed on either party regardless of infidelity, etc… All jurisdictions allow for some type of no-fault grounds such as “irreconcilable differences.” Some states will consider fault grounds for divorce, such as adultery or abandonment. Your attorney will be able to advise you on if fault grounds are available in your state, and if so, whether or not it makes sense to file for divorce on fault grounds.
Temporary Orders for Support and Custody
If one spouse is seeking financial support or custody of children, that spouse will need to ask the court for temporary orders for support and custody. A temporary order is usually granted within a few days of the initial petition. It remains in effect until the full divorce court hearing. If the party seeking the temporary order is the same party who is filing the petition, it’s advised that they file both the divorce petition and the temporary order at the same time. If you are not the party that filed the divorce petition but will be looking for temporary support or child support, it’s advised that you file your request for the temporary order as soon as possible. An attorney can ensure that you fill out the correct forms and file them correctly and in a timely fashion.
Proof of Service and Response
When a party files for divorce they also need to file for a proof of service of process. This document proves that a copy of the divorce petition was given to the other party. This can be done through a process server, or by a lawyer. There are numerous ways to do this and you’ll want to consult a lawyer for advice on how to do this. If the parties mutually agree on the divorce, it is best for the party who files the complaint to arrange for service of process to the other party’s attorney.
Once the party receives the service of process they will need to file a response to the petition. In states where fault grounds can be filed and the responding party wants to dispute those grounds, he or she needs to address it in the response. They are able to dispute the facts alleged in the grounds for divorce. Additionally, if the party disagrees with property division, support, custody, or any other issue, this should be set out in the response.
Negotiation
When two divorcing spouses disagree on issues they must come to an agreement that settles their differences. Often times this is done through mediation rather than going to divorce court. During this process every aspect of a marriage is resolved: child custody and visitation, child support, property division and any spousal support. Working with a mediation specialist can help you receive the settlement you are seeking when it comes to dissolving your marriage. It’s within your best interest to try and resolve all these issues outside of court. This will cut down on legal fees, time spent arguing, and any headaches that can come with trying to go back and forth to find an agreeable settlement. Any issues left undecided during the mediation process will have to be decided at a trial.
Order of Dissolution
Once everything is decided upon an order of dissolution is set forth. This document spells out how the property and debts are to be divided, what child custody and visitation schedule is, what support payments (spousal and child) need to be paid, and any other issues. If the parties are able to negotiate their own resolution to all of the issues, their lawyers will draft the order of dissolution and submit it to the court. If the Order of Dissolution complies with legal requirements and both parties entered into it knowingly and willingly and can attest to it, then the judge approves it. This means the divorce is finalized. If these issues cannot be resolved then a couple will have to go through divorce court and have a judge decide on the aspects of the marriage dissolution. Once that is decided an Order of Dissolution is the end result of the trial.
Working with an attorney can also be helpful if the divorce agreement is not adhered to. Having everything legally determined means there is a creation of a binding document that both spouses much adhere to. This means that if the divorce agreement is violated, you have legal backing to pursue legal action against the delinquent spouse.
Working With a Divorce Specialist
Divorce can be a difficult and emotional process. An attorney will be able to help you through various aspects, including decisions on children, determining spousal support, and dividing marital property.