LANSING, Mich. — Divorce is rarely easy.a process made even more complicated during a pandemic. Attorneys say for months they've seen an uptick in calls. As Amanda Brandeis shows us programs created to help families navigate divorce are expanding to meet the need.
There’s no playbook on divorce. Nikki Bruno, went through a divorce, “I started feeling miserable in my marriage, the level of conflict in our relationship had increased a lot.” With two small children, she filed for divorce unaware of just how traumatic and painful the years-long conflict would be.
“Financially, certainly emotionally – I mean the process almost broke me. ”When the pandemic forced cities into lockdowns, she felt for anyone going through the process now.
“When the amount of tension was thicker than i can ever describe to you. If we had been in quarantine during that time, I feel like something would’ve blown up.” Bob Vona, CEO and founder of vesta explained “It’s a really hard thing to do alone, and through COVID it makes it tremendously more difficult because there’s all the other stressors and burdens, losing jobs, or dealing with kids at home 24 hours a day, educating them.”
Bob Vona is a co-founder of Vesta – a company created by people touched by divorce, to help others through complex process. “Where they can be empowered to make sound, rational, healthy decisions before the sign on the dotted line of their divorce.”
With hubs around the country, Vesta’s divorce professionals provide free education; made up of attorneys, realtors, financial advisors, therapists, and parenting coaches. Bruno attended an event five years ago.
“The primary emotion was I felt relieved. and I also felt a little bit more grounded and little bit more powerful, because of the information.”Vesta moved its platform online during the pandemic, and has seen a spike in clients - 4,500 so far, compared to 1,500 this time last year because professionals pay a fee to be on the vesta team, events are free for attendees many end up hiring a professional that fits their need.
“Attorneys from coast to coast, Massachusetts to California, are estimating that if you’re going through divorce right now and brand new to separation process, it’s a minimum of two years before you’re going to get through the divorce process.”
Nikki Bruno shared “like it or not divorce is an opportunity to start over.” Bruno’s divorce inspired her to switch career paths – pivoting from a leadership coach to a divorce and empowerment coach.
She says divorce doesn’t define a person, and with work, it’s possible to come out better on the other side.
Anyone is welcome to attend the free virtual events, even if our state doesn’t have an official hub.
You can register online at www.vestadivorce.com.
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