In Singapore, your divorce is final in one of two ways. First, you can seek an uncontested divorce, where you and your partner agree to all the terms of the divorce.
Second, if you do or you soon-to-be ex-spouse disagree on the terms of the divorce, the Court adjudges your case. The divorce is final only once the Court grants you the Certificate of Final Judgment. The final order issued by the Court signifies the legal and official end of your relationship with your spouse.
Life after divorce can feel strange and uncomfortable at the start. Of course, this is only natural since so many changes take place in post-divorce life. But, with some care and planning, you’ll soon find that you’re able to find a routine and lifestyle that works for you; and, more importantly, which makes you happy.
What sort of changes can you expect in life after divorce?
You will get the opportunity to appeal your divorce judgement
If you find that the divorce judgement passed by the Court is not in your favour, you have the right to file an appeal within 30 days of the decision. While you won’t be able to submit new evidence unless you apply for leave of Court, your Singapore divorce lawyers will plan and file your appeal and represent you in the new hearing.
You will have to get used to your new economic status
Many women find that life after divorce is economically weaker than life before the divorce. One of the issues that lead to this problem is the gender pay gap that exists in Singapore. The Ministry of Manpower conducted a survey that revealed there was a 16.3% gender pay gap in Singapore in 2018.
In a post-divorce life, you will have to pay the bills, school fees for kids, and groceries on a single income.
The important thing during this time is to accept this as the new reality and find ways to earn more money. You can take up freelancing gigs to do as a side job. You can sell some of your old clothes or jewellery to make extra money. You can implement a cash savings measure by saving every coin you can spare.
Related Article: A Simple Way to Cope with Reduced Income after a Divorce
You will need to shift your victim mentality into a hero/ine mentality
It’s really easy to continue to feel afraid and cautious a few weeks/months after the divorce. You’ve been through much emotional trauma, and it can take a while to overcome. But it would help if you actively started to shift your perspective from a victim to a hero or heroine. When you do this, you let go of the notion that bad things happen to you. And, you open your life up to receive new blessings and positive experiences.
Sit in front of the mirror each day and telling yourself aloud all that you are proud of.
As you gain more confidence, you’ll find that it’s easier to stop being the victim and instead be a hero/ine.
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You will have to learn how to move on and create a new life for yourself
Yes, this can be tough to forgive your ex-partner for the hurt they caused you. But you will have to learn to let go of the past and try to forget the old life. Doing so will help you with your mental health.
Second, learn not to take everything so seriously and stop viewing the world fatalistically. Once you know how to smile & laugh more, you’ll find that life is so enjoyable and you are powerful.
Finally, consider what you’ve always wanted to do with your life. Now that your divorce is final, you have complete agency over your life and can do anything you want. So don’t let the sky be your limit. If you’ve wanted to relocate elsewhere, you can do so too.
Related Article: How to Help Your Child Cope With A Divorce