Even for the strongest among us, going through a divorce is a difficult process. From dividing your property to making decisions that will determine how much time you get to spend with your children, nothing about a divorce is easy, and support from friends and family can go a long way toward helping individuals cope with their divorce.

If you have a friend or loved one who is going through a divorce or recently divorced, or if you want to ask for help but aren’t sure how to go about it, here are seven easy ways that friends and family can help with divorce:

1. Help with Moving or Reorganizing

Whether packing up to move or reorganizing to account for new empty space, the process of physically preparing for a new post-divorce life can be both physically and emotionally challenging. Even if you can’t lift boxes or help move furniture, just being there can go a long, long way.

2. Go Out to Eat

Weeknight evenings at home and Saturday and Sunday mornings are times when many divorces start to hit home. Going out to dinner or brunch can help form new memories, start new traditions, and shift thoughts away from how things used to be.

3. Volunteer for Necessary Childcare

For both custodial and non-custodial parents, there are likely to be times when childcare is both necessary and difficult to find. If you know that a friend or loved one needs to tend to an obligation without their children present, offer to babysit and plan ahead so that you can stay late if necessary.

4. Go Out for Coffee

If a meal seems too formal, or if your own family obligations are getting in the way, going out for coffee can offer a much-needed respite during or after a divorce. Pick a coffee shop that is close to your friend’s or family member’s home, and come prepared with a list of topics for conversation. You don’t have to get through them all, but having options at the ready can help you keep the conversation positive and refreshing.

5. Spend the Night

Sometimes, just having company can provide an emotional boost. Being there for your friend or family member does not have to mean spending money or making specific plans. Come over for dinner, play games, watch movies, talk late into the night, and set your alarm so that you can make coffee and breakfast in the morning.

6. Be Flexible With the Holidays

Quite understandably, the holidays are times divorcing and former spouses can struggle emotionally. When long-standing family traditions are no longer an option, it can be difficult to adjust to the change. Can your friend or loved one join your family for the holiday? Can you start a new tradition that just involves you and your friend or loved one? Being flexible and offering alternatives around the holidays can be a meaningful way to help someone you care about with their divorce.

7. Just Show Up

While making plans has obvious benefits, sometimes, it can be best to just show up. During a busy week or a particularly difficult time, go over to your friend’s or family member’s house for dinner and see what happens. Bring food if you want, but know that just showing up will be more than enough.

MR. Men’s Rights Divorce & Family Law of New Jersey by Schultz & Associates, LLC | Hackensack Family & Divorce Lawyers

MR. Men’s Rights Divorce & Family Law of New Jersey by Schultz & Associates, LLC is a Hackensack family and divorce law firm that represents spouses during and after the divorce process. If you have questions about divorce and would like to speak with an attorney, you can call us at (201) 880-9770 or contact us online or a confidential initial consultation.

Carrie S. Schultz, Esq. – author

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