My Best Divorce Advice~ 2 min read
If you have been considering divorce, you have probably been asking people you know for their advice. As a divorce professional, here is some of the best advice that I can offer and what I often tell my clients. How you approach your divorce can shape not only the outcome but also your ability to move forward.
Below are practical steps that can help you to guide you through your divorce.
1. Treat Your Divorce Like a Business Deal
Think of your divorce as a business deal. While emotions are a natural part of any divorce, letting your emotions control the process can lead to unnecessary conflict and higher costs. The mindset of your divorce as a business deal can help you make clearer decisions and move forward faster.
2. Choose Mediation or Collaborative Divorce
Mediation or Collaborative Divorce offer a more constructive alternative. While going to court is expensive, stressful, and time consuming, in a Collaborative Divorce, a team of professionals— including your attorneys, a neutral financial specialist, and a neutral mental health professional, who helps with communication—work together to help you and your spouse reach amicable solutions. These divorce processes prioritize open communication, the well-being of your family, and achieving the best possible outcome for everyone involved.
3. Seek Emotional Support
Your divorce will stir up many emotions, and it is okay to need help. You should consider working with a therapist, counselor, or support group. If you are in a Collaborative Divorce, ask your team for recommendations. Getting the right support can help you process your feelings and prevent anger or frustration from derailing your divorce.
4. Avoid Court at All Costs
The court system was never designed to handle the details and challenges of divorce. A judge will only hear a fraction of your story, and their decisions are bound by rigid laws. In contrast, Mediation and Collaborative Divorce provide space for your voice to be heard and your family’s unique needs to be considered.
5. Focus on Your Family’s Future
During the divorce process make your family’s well-being a top priority. Divorce is not just about ending a relationship—it is about creating a healthier path forward for everyone. A contentious divorce can make your life and that of your children more difficult going forward. Prioritizing this perspective can help you work toward solutions that benefit you, your ex-spouse, and your children.
Contact Family Ally
At Family Ally, we believe that it is our job to help guide families through divorce with care and compassion. Whether through Mediation or Collaborative Divorce, we help you find amicable solutions that prioritize your family’s needs.
Contact Jennifer Piper at 314-449-9800 to schedule a consultation. Family Ally is located at 130 S. Bemiston Ave., Suite 608, St. Louis, MO 63105.
Jennifer R. Piper is a family law attorney, mediator, and parenting coordinator with more than 20 years of experience serving families in the St. Louis area. She is certified as a Guardian ad Litem and frequently appointed by courts to represent children in high-conflict cases. Jennifer is a former Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and an active leader in local and state bar organizations.
Her professional recognition includes being named to The Best Lawyers in America® (2017–2025), Missouri Super Lawyers (2021–2024), and receiving a Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Jennifer also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She regularly speaks on family law topics and has helped shape family court procedures through her service on multiple committees.
