Legal divorce documents give individuals proof that they can re-marry if they choose to do so. During this stage, individuals specify how their possessions and property will be divided. They also sign off on joint or sole custody agreements if children are involved. This stage can be overwhelming if lawyers and courts are controlling some of the decisions.
This stage may occur prior to the legal stage of divorce. During the emotional stage, one or both members of the couple come to the realization that the marriage is not working and cannot be saved. One member of the couple may not agree with the decision. During this period the couple separates from the marriage emotionally. This can take a different amount of time for each individual.
During the economic stage, finances are divided up and two new households are formed. Both individuals in the couple may face financial strain during this stage due to the increased burden of supporting two households on the same income. Individuals need to create and stick to budgets during this phase.
Once the child custody agreement is in place, parents have to implement the agreement and come up with a co-parenting strategy that will support the children during and after the divorce process. It is important for couples to let go of anger and work together for the children during and after this stage.
Divorce leads to the severing of joint ties that the couple may have had during their marriage. During this stage, both individuals develop a new support network that may or may not include friends and relatives that they had during the marriage.
This is the final stage of the divorce when both individuals learn to live autonomously without each other. During this stage individuals start seeing themselves as independent entities and do not rely on each other for support or approval.