When going through a divorce, there will be many choices to make. How to divide finances. Who gets which assets. Where you will live during the process. One of the biggest choices to make is how you wish to go about the divorce process.
There are several different ways to reach a divorce agreement. Choosing the divorce method that is right for you will depend on a variety of factors such as your finances, your relationship with your spouse and how your spouse wishes to proceed. To help you decide, we will discuss four common paths for getting a divorce.
1. Mediation
Divorce mediation is a process in which spouses sit down with a neutral mediator to come to a mutually satisfactory divorce arrangement. Often, the mediator is a divorce attorney who also has experience in mediation. Mediation can often be less expensive than going to court. It is also private, while the court process is a matter of public record. Mediation is a wonderful option if you and your spouse have an amicable relationship and can communicate civilly. If you can’t stand each other? Probably not.
2. Collaboration
Collaboration is similar to mediation in that a couple agrees to work together to reach a divorce arrangement. Each spouse is represented by an attorney who helps them negotiate a settlement away from the courtroom. Like mediation, collaborative divorce is private and is usually less expensive. It is also, however, quite difficult to do if you and your spouse do not have a cordial relationship.
3. Do-it-yourself divorce
There are some couples who wish to go through the divorce process without any help. Some people do this in an attempt to save on costs, or because they think it will be faster. This is not usually how do-it-yourself divorces turn out. The divorce process can be endlessly complex. So when couples attempt to do it on their own, it can end up even more complicated than it would have been if they had hired a divorce attorney.
4. Litigation
Although the majority of divorces are settled privately, it is sometimes inevitable that a divorce must proceed to court with the assistance of an attorney. In a litigated divorce, there is usually a highly contested issue such as child custody, child support or alimony that the couple cannot agree on. In this case, each spouse should have the representation of an attorney who has experience in divorce litigation.
