Language is often changed to take something which is bad and make it seem good. We take the unpleasant and through words make it at least sound tolerable.
Here are some examples of words which are used to soften the truth.
- Bad debts and bad loans become Nonperforming assets
- Used cars Pre-owned.
- Killing innocent bystanders or civilians in a war Collateral damage
- Murdering people based on race, religion Ethnic cleansing
- Laid off Down-sized
- Low-level employee Associate
- Sewage Biosolids
- Poor countries Developing nations
Vancouver, WA divorce attorneys have even seen this type of terminology seep into the courts. Divorce lawyers in Vancouver WA know that in Washington we don’t even have divorce. The word divorce comes with a reputation of something nasty. Divorce is now called “dissolution.” This change makes divorce seem like a business matter you take care of before heading out on vacation.
Washington family law attorneys don’t spend time accusing the other party of adultery or mental cruelty which used to be the standard grounds for divorce. Divorce lawyers now file for a “no-fault dissolution.”
A family lawyer in Vancouver, WA would not call divorcing spouses “plaintiffs” and “defendants.” These parties now come with kinder titles. The party who originally started litigation is called the “Petitioner.” The other spouse is the “Respondent.”
Just because the language of divorce has become kind and soft in the court systems. This does not mean your divorce is going to be butterflies and roses. As a Vancouver WA family law firm, Lambert Law, PLLC understands the trauma that can occur during a divorce.
We know that just simply telling parents that they are going to “co-parent” doesn’t mean that this is going to happen smoothly. The old language of “custody battle” has made way for a “Parenting Plan.” Simply calling this process by another name, does not take the sting out of sharing your child with a person who was abusive or neglectful before the dissolution of your marriage. Nor does the new language change the disposition of your former spouse.
We can pretend that you aren’t losing custody of your child by simply saying “non-residential parent,” but this was just another soft way to put something which is hard to deal with.
If you are considering divorce, Lambert Law an experienced, compassionate attorney can help you navigate not only the “softer” language, but also the realities facing you. Call (360) 737-1473.