You may not always get along with your spouse, which can cause problems while you work through issues related to your divorce. One of the ways that you can handle this problem is by switching to emails or text messages, because you won’t necessarily have to be together and can take time to formulate your responses.
Even in text, though, one thing to keep in mind is that you need to stay respectful. When you write to the other party, you want to be clear about your tone and avoid saying anything that could be taken as being rude or disrespectful.
Why is this important when you’re writing to the other party?
While texting and using email helps you keep communication clear and keep track of the messages you’ve received, it can also be detrimental to your case if you lose your temper in an email or send rude messages via text. While you might say or do something rash when upset, you should know that these messages are easier to track and print out, meaning that they could end up in front of a judge.
While an argument might not be recorded if you’re having a discussion with your spouse in person, one on paper could be harmful to your case if it shows that you’re being unreasonable, disrespectful or intentionally disruptive. Or course, the opposite is true as well, and your spouse’s actions can also be tracked through text.
How can you avoid accusations of disrespect in text formats?
To avoid accusations of being disrespectful, you need to remember to use your “business” voice in texts or emails. Start and end them formally. For example, adding, “thank you for your time,” or “I appreciate you taking the time to review this question,” could help show your tone is more polite. Something like, “get back to me,” could be seen as rude or snippy, which is the last thing you want.
Any time you interact with your spouse, remember that your intentions matter. You want to resolve this divorce as smoothly as possible and keep it friendly as you move forward. Approach problems with an open mind and be reasonable with your responses.