In any situation in which a family is breaking apart, tensions are particularly high.  It is of utmost importance wherever possible for each party to attempt to negotiate a reasonable compromise to this difficult situation.  Often times this will involve suppressing very real and personal emotions and feelings.  Particularity, when speaking on the issue of custody, parties that are able to reach a compromise benefit in that they reached an agreement together for a child that they had together, neither party was forced to litigate custody and drag up old and hurtful allegations regarding the other party, and not so insignificantly the parties have saved a tremendous amount of money in not litigating the issue of custody.

In reaching an agreement as to property disposition, once again each party is provided the opportunity of dividing property such that not necessarily they are completely satisfied, but that each can live with the result.  Similarly, in not litigating disposition of property, each party has once again demonstrated the ability to communicate and cooperate, but also has save a tremendous amount of money.  At the end of the day, particularly in custody situations, each party will need to be able to co-parent and cooperate in raising of a child.  It is hopeful that when your child or children graduate from high school, that when they come off the stage they will not have to make a decision as to which parent to go to, because both parents will be sitting together to celebrate that important day together.

Contained within the materials provided are some statistics with regard to children raised in separated families that were contentious vs. children raised in separated families that were less contentious.