There are two places battling spouses probably shouldn't travel to in the same car.
One is the marriage counselor's office. The other is Divorce Court.
The reason is simple: it's usually a lot easier getting there together than it is traveling home.
Give Yourself Some Space
A court appearance can be stressful even when you and your spouse are getting along reasonably well. You may hear something you weren't expecting. Your spouse may say something that makes you angry. A judge may make a decision that one of you likes and the other one doesn't.
Then you both walk out of the courthouse.
Do you really want to spend the ride home sitting three feet away from each other?
Probably not.
Whenever possible, give yourself some space. Drive separately, arrange another ride, or have someone you trust take you. It may seem like a small detail, but avoiding unnecessary conflict is generally a good idea during a divorce.
Don't Create a Fight You Don't Need
Divorce already gives you enough things to disagree about. There's no reason to create another opportunity for an argument simply because you arrived at court in the same car.
Sometimes the smartest response to your spouse is also the simplest: "No. We cannot drive together."
If you're preparing for a New Jersey divorce and want to better understand what to expect, my free Divorce Smarter Course can help you prepare for the process ahead.
Until next time,
Steve