I did not - mainly because the pain/disappointment of my divorce (even though I wanted it badly), was something intimate to me that I wanted to go through solo. I did get other type of support but on that specific day it was just me and my attorney. Interesting that he brought his dad though. I've know of many family that are so close that they suffocate each other and don't respect each other's privacy. While is great to be close to your family, anything in excess is not good in my opinion.

Best wishes to you.

Thanks for your response Millie. Yes, that was definitely the case with my ex... his family was so super close, suffocating each other and not respecting others privacy. That was the gist of why I wanted the divorce.

I know everyone will have their own opinion on it, but I feel the same as you - that divorce is an intimate thing. I didn't want anyone there either. I actually spent a few hours after it was done by myself, painting some furniture for my classroom for the upcoming year.

I did. Only because my state requires you to bring a witness with you when your divorce is granted. A friend from Divorce Care was my witness. The other five court hearings (three for contempt) it was just me.

Thanks Trisha - just curious, in your state, is it like a closed door session type of thing? My pretrial was pretty public.... there was one case ahead of ours (a contempt) and then a few behind us.

Closed door. A very small court room, the usual court employees with a bailiff and we each had attys. The divorce took about 20 minutes to be approved. The contempt hearings took longer but were also closed hearings.

I don't know if divorces are done this way state wide. Unfortunately I live in a very upscale town with some very rich residents. They protect their privacy. I think some counties do have open divorce court.

I did, I had my best friend bring me and she was my witness.

Honey, hugs. My ex brought his sister and mother with him every time we had a court or mediation hearing. It is one of the reason that I finally threw in the towel after 25 years. Let people talk, they were not in your shoes. I know how it feels to be in that type of marriage. We had no privacy at all. I could not even buy furniture without his mother approval. Just hold head up high and smile

Oh no knuckle! That is horrible! We didn't go the mediation route, though sometimes I wish we had. That was my fault, I just wasn't educated on my options and felt the need to protect myself with a lawyer early on in the process.

But from what I've heard of mediation through a support group I've been attending, the idea is that the divorcing couple works together to reach an agreement. I can't imagine how awful that must have been for you to have his mom and sister sitting there, being privy to all of these discussions. UGH! Hope you are doing well.

My ex is controlled by his brother and dad. They knew all of our business sometimes before I did. I do not miss that at all.....stand up and be a man, your wife should of been your priority, not them, gets me all worked up even now, grrrrrrrrr. By the way my ex is 56 and can't take a sh-- without their approval, and he is the older brother.....honestly, put on your big boy pants and control your own life........sorry folks, just a little venting happening tonight.

No worries yougo.

As far as having people in court, I can definitely understand having a best friend or someone from a support group there to support you (even if it's not closed door and you don't need a witness). And I can also see it the other way where you might feel like you want it to be more private. Like I said, it's a very personal decision, I was just curious.

In my case, it just rubbed "salt in the wound" so to speak because his family was a huge part of our divorce. If he'd brought a friend I think I would've felt better about it... Oh well....

My father came to my lawyer to draw up the separation agreement, I was afraid in my state of mind I would not hear everything or understand it.

My father was also with me when I went into the lawyers office to sign the divorce papers as we were doing it together at my lawyers to save a bit of money.

No way I wanted to be alone as I signed a piece of paper that ended my life (or so I thought at the time)

I took my dad because like you said it was an intimate thing, and my father was the one I had confided in all along.

I didn't want my dirty laudnery aired to even my best friend.

We were never in court as ours was amicable (or as amicable when you are the one who doesn't want what is happening to you()

My first appearance is in couple of weeks and my best friend, her mother and another friend of mine are coming. I did not ask, they offered. They understand how difficult this is going to be for me (we were together 16 years), so they are just offering support. In Missouri, anyone can be present because the divorce proceedings because they are open to the public.

While divorce is an intimate situation, my STBX has done so many horrible things to me. All of our friends know about his behavior and many of his actions he has proudly posted on FB. So for me, privacy is not an issue.

My stbx's father has his own lawyer
Talk about a blowhard