The Odyssey tells the tale of its protagonist, Odysseus, attempting to return to his wife, Penelope after 10 long years of war. Whilst Christopher Nolan’s recent adaptation glosses over some of Odysseus’ extracurricular endeavours that occupied his time while he was trying to get home, it perhaps has some people questioning what happens if you get “ghosted” during your divorce?
Unfortunately, this can happen, and it is a very real issue. Divorce can be extremely difficult to cope with, and for some people, that can manifest as avoidance or burying their head in the sand.
The first option, as ever, is to take stock and exercise some patience with a view to bringing the reluctant party to the table. However, that cannot be to the detriment of all involved and Family Court have remedies available if you find yourself in that situation. Issuing proceedings is often seen, incorrectly, as the nuclear option but it is important to understand that that process is in fact incredibly mediatory; ultimately, it is two parties, perhaps their legal teams and an experienced Judge putting their minds together to establish the extent of assets available and then dividing those assets as best possible, with a view to ensuring each side is able to move on independently. With Court proceedings come Court imposed deadlines that enable the matter to progress consistently and with structure, with the watchful eye of the Judge ensuring all parties involved are doing what they need to, to get to the final act. Whilst most cases do settle outside of Court, formal proceedings should be seen as a helpful tool as opposed to an adversarial move.
To that end, if you do ever find yourself in Penelope’s silk lined shoes, there is a team of dedicated Divorce and Financial Remedy experts here at McAlister Family Law who can talk you through your options and carry you through the process of your choice. Email us at [email protected].
