Can You Be Friends After Divorce?~ 2 min read

How you divorce will shape if you can be friends afterward. Choosing an amicable process, such as Mediation or Collaborative Divorce for your divorce will foster respect and cooperation, making it easier to stay on good terms, which is especially important if you share children or a wider family. A peaceful process will support healthier relationships and emotional well-being moving forward.

Post-Divorce Friendship Starts with How You Choose to Divorce

Whether you and your former spouse can be friends after the divorce, depends on how the divorce itself is handled. If you treat each other with respect, work through disagreements calmly, and avoid courtroom battles, you are more likely to be on good terms later. That does not mean you will be best friends, but you may be able to speak kindly, attend events together, and make shared decisions if you have children.

Divorce Does Not Have to Be a Fight

In a courtroom, you are encouraged to highlight each other’s flaws and make accusations to “win” your case. That type of process can cause deep resentment and make it nearly impossible to have a healthy relationship afterward.  Courtroom litigation often creates lasting tension.

By contrast, resolving your divorce through an amicable method, such as Mediation or Collaborative Divorce will keep the focus on cooperation. You get the chance to speak, be heard, and reach agreements together. This often leads to more peace and less lasting damage for your family and you individually.

Why It Matters for Families

If you have children, your and your spouse’s ability to be friendly after divorce will shape how your family functions going forward. You will likely need to attend graduations, weddings, birthday parties, and other shared events well into the future. When you can be in the same room and treat each other with kindness, your children and grandchildren benefit.

Even if you do not have kids, it can still help your mental health to let go of anger. Holding onto resentment may hurt you more than the other person. Most people feel better when they stop focusing on the past and begin to rebuild new parts of their lives.

Friendship Might Look Different

Being friends after divorce does not have to mean weekly dinners or long phone calls. For some people, it just means being able to communicate when needed. For others, it might mean joint celebrations with family. Every relationship is different, but the ability to be respectful and cooperative makes everything easier.

Want a Divorce Process That Leaves Room for Respect?

At Family Ally in St. Louis, we focus on helping you move through divorce without added conflict. If you want to part ways in a way that allows you both to move forward with less stress, contact Jennifer Piper at 314-449-9800 to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward a solution that works for you and your family.

Family Ally is located at 130 S. Bemiston Ave., Suite 608, St. Louis, MO 63105.