Everything tends to get divided as a divorce progresses, and often that includes friends. Once you and your spouse have announced your plans to separate, your relationships with certain people may become strained. In some situations, friends who are close to your spouse may even treat you with open hostility. The way you interact with your spouse’s friends during a divorce could impact certain aspects of your personal and professional life. Depending on the person’s closeness with your family, he or she could even affect your divorce settlement, so nothing should be taken for granted.

Be Wary of Friends from Before Marriage

People who knew your spouse before you met and got married are not always the close, selfless friends to you that they present themselves to be. Be cautious when accepting advice from people who have a long history with your spouse since chances are their loyalty is to your spouse. Also, it is best not to confide in friends who may repeat everything you say to your spouse, especially regarding matters that could have a serious impact on your divorce proceedings. If you do tell a mutual friend something without meaning to, always inform your attorney so that he or she can prepare for any possible repercussions.

Stay Amicable

Even if you are certain that you do not plan on remaining friends with a person after your divorce is finalized, that is no reason to be rude. Remaining amicable costs nothing and can prevent arguments, trouble, and general bad feelings  If a mutual friend calls you or contacts you via social media, there is nothing wrong with talking with them and catching up on certain events. It is possible to have a casually friendly relationship with them that does not disclose any information about your separation and pending divorce.

Prepare for Hurt Feelings

No matter what was promised or discussed before the divorce, the opinions of your friends may change once the divorce process begins. As disappointing as it may seem, preparing to have your feelings hurt is always a good idea. The stances or feelings of your spouse’s friends may change once they start hearing about potential settlement agreements. While there are always exceptions and it is possible that mutual friends will gravitate towards you during the divorce, it is best to prepare for the worst while hoping that the final outcome is a good one.

Talk to Your Attorney

During your divorce, you will need the support of your friends and family, but ultimately you will benefit most from having a good relationship with your attorney. Talking to your divorce attorney about all of your concerns and to obtain answers to your questions will keep you informed while ensuring that your attorney has all of the information relevant to your case. The aggressive attorneys at Vayman & Teiltelbaum will fight to defend your rights and protect your case from the damage that could be caused by vindictive friends of a former spouse. Contact one of our Atlanta metro area offices today to schedule a consultation so that we can beginning discussing your needs.