Just like marriages, every divorce is unique. What works for one couple
may not work for another, so it's essential to understand your options
as you head into your divorce.
Today, we're covering five ways you can get divorced, so you can choose
a method that will work for you.
Contact our office online
or via phone at {F:P:Sub:Phone} to get the help you deserve with your divorce.
Legal Separation Before Divorce
If you're not totally sure you want to end your marriage, legal separation
is a great option. It enables you and your spouse to take some time apart
and come to a final decision on how you want to proceed.
If you do want to follow through with your divorce, a legal separation
allows you to negotiate the terms of your divorce while still technically
being married. That means you can make plans for divorce-related processes,
like property division, while still paying taxes together and benefiting
from marriage-specific plans like joint health insurance.
DIY Divorce
Do-it-yourself (DIY) divorce is becoming increasingly popular. Various
DIY divorce services offer couples a cheap form they can fill out and
then file with their court clerk to begin divorce proceedings.
DIY divorce is tempting because it allows couples to circumvent the high
costs associated with divorce. But if it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is. DIY divorce often over-simplifies the divorce process and
doesn't provide divorcees with many (or any) legal protections, which
can result in people making decisions they regret later down the line.
Unless you and your partner completely understand the divorce process and
totally agree on how to handle your divorce, you shouldn't consider
DIY divorce.
Mediation
Many family law courts require couples to engage in mediation before continuing
their divorce in the courtroom. In mediation, a mediator helps both parties
compromise on how to handle the divorce.
Mediators cannot give legal advice—to obtain counsel during mediation,
you need to hire a dedicated mediation attorney.
If you want a cost-effective, low-stress alternative to an in-court divorce
and can engage in good-faith negotiation with your spouse, mediation is
a great option. if you and your spouse are estranged or you want a more
combative divorce alternative, mediation probably isn't right for you.
Collaborative Divorce
In a collaborative divorce, both parties hire attorneys. Those attorneys
then work with their clients and each other to negotiate terms for the
divorce over several sessions.
Collaborative divorce is a great option for people who feel the mediation
process is too fast or isn't legally protective enough, but still
want to remain on good terms with their spouse. It's the "jack
of all trades" of divorce alternatives and often leaves both parties
relatively happy, making it one of the most popular ways to dissolve a marriage.
However, like mediation, if you can't engage in good-faith negotiation
with your partner, collaborative divorce may not be right for you.
Litigation
Litigation is the most combative divorce alternative we're covering
in this blog. In litigation, attorneys fight for their client's best
interests—even if doing so makes the other party unhappy. That makes
it more combative than other divorce alternatives like mediation or collaborative
divorce, which are focused on helping divorcees develop mutually beneficial
terms for their divorce.
If you and your spouse are estranged and you want a legally secure, combative
divorce alternative that still costs less than an in-court contested divorce,
litigation may be right for you.
At Arnold Law Group, APC, we can help you find the best path forward in
your divorce.
To learn more about our firm or schedule a consultation, contact us online
or via phone at {F:P:Sub:Phone}.