Keeping Family Law Issues out of Holiday Dinners

The holidays are supposed to be a time for families to come together and experience the joy and magic of the season. The trouble is, many families do not have the lives that play out on social media. In fact, it is not at all uncommon for families to argue frequently during the holidays.

If you hope to have a peaceful holiday dinner, there are certain issues you may want to avoid entirely. Many family issues can pit family members against each other. But if you want to avoid that during this holiday season, there are some subjects you may need to steer clear of.

Once the holidays are over and you are ready to get back to your life, you can work on your family issues again. You may even decide to end your marriage if things are starting to reach that point. If this happens, an experienced Spartanburg, SC divorce lawyer at Nowell Law Firm can help. Call us at (864) 707-1785 when you are ready to schedule your initial case review.

Family Law Issues to Avoid at the Holidays

There are many different topics that might come up at your Christmas or holiday dinners that could cause your family more stress than they are worth. Of course, there are the hot topics of politics, religion, which family members are getting married, which are getting divorced, how the economy is doing, masks and Covid vaccines, and many more.

But when it comes to issues involving family legal matters, you may need to take steps to avoid the subject entirely at the holidays. Some of the more common types of family law topics you will want to do your best to avoid include:

• Child custody issues
• Child visitation disputes
• Potential for divorce
• Marital troubles
• Legal guardianship
• Conservatorship
• Substance abuse among family members

There are many different problems that could arise if the wrong topics are brought up at the dinner table. In some cases, the meal may be ruined. Family members may be willing to leave in the middle of dinner, arguments may erupt, and the holiday gathering could be in jeopardy.

Do yourself and your family a favor and try to minimize the amount of discussion surrounding family law matters. If for no other reason, do it for the children. If you want to keep the peace this holiday season and give your kids a holiday they can happily remember, keep the conversation regarding family disputes to a minimum.

What to Do if a Family Member Brings Up Issues at Holiday Dinner

You may not be able to avoid when family law issues are brought up at dinner if someone else brings them up. You can’t control how your family reacts or responds when situations like that occur. But you can take steps to reduce conflict and confrontation.

Here are some steps you can take if you have a family member bring up sensitive family issues during your holiday dinner:

• Lightly change the subject
• Ask another family member about something exciting in their life
• Bring out some toys or games for the kids to play with
• Put on a movie or some music to lighten the mood
• Offer to get guests food and beverages

Although the logical response may seem to be addressing the person who has caused the disruption, in many cases, this only stokes the fire and creates further argument and disruption to your holiday dinner. As a last-ditch effort, you may attempt to talk to this person privately about keeping these matters away from the dinner table.

As long as you have done your best to reduce conflict and keep family law Issues off subject as part of your holiday, you will have done what you can to make the holidays peaceful and hopefully also joyful for you and your family.

Contact a Divorce Attorney in Spartanburg, SC Today

If you have been contemplating divorce and your holiday with your spouse made you realize just how ready you are to end your marriage, we are here to help you through this journey. Contact Nowell Law Firm to take your first step into your new life. Schedule your no-risk case review when you fill out our online contact form or call our office at (864) 707-1785.