The thoughtful truth of family disputes
Making the decision to end a relationship can be fraught with emotional turmoil, but it is important to be aware that the related legal issues which need to be resolved, will test your emotional and mental strength.
Emotional impact
The nature of family law issues often means parties are required to pick over the detail of their relationship, which can undermine the character or intentions of their former partner or family member. This approach can heighten the emotional wounds, increasing feelings of guilt, anger, and betrayal.
Litigation fatigue
With the average case taking around nine months to achieve a resolution, there is a likelihood that during the process questions will be raised about why matters are not resolved or whether there is a way to speed things up. Litigation fatigue relates to the mental and emotional exhaustion that builds up as individuals go through the legal process. It is not unusual to experience feelings of being trapped in a cycle of waiting and uncertainty, which can lead to a decline in emotional and psychological well-being.
Risk stress
In any dispute resolution process, there is the ever-present stress of risk, but this is intensified in family cases due to the perceived impact on the future life of the party concerned. There will come a stage in a negotiation, where the certainty of an offer on the table is set against the perception of an outcome which could be achieved.
Settlement
While the prospect of reaching a settlement may seem like a beneficial end to the exhausting and stressful process, the emotional impact of a settlement can be surprisingly complex. On the one hand, settlement can bring immense relief, offering closure and a resolution that ends the uncertainty, but on the other the wrong outcome can lead to lingering resentment, particularly if one party feels that the settlement is unfair, which can trigger feelings of grief, loss, and even failure.
At Tees Law, we strive to understand the emotional dynamics at play when a relationship breaks down to enable us to provide more compassionate and mindful support to our clients by choosing the best option for you to achieve a resolution. It cannot be said that a family dispute is simply a legal problem to be resolved, when it is an emotional journey, which to navigate successfully requires appropriate support and guidance.
