For those seeking an alternative to a litigious divorce, you might consider collaborative divorce.
“By the end of the divorce trial, spouses can become enemies,” says attorney Joryn Jenkins. “Litigation makes people be mean to each other. … But people usually don’t know that there’s another option,” she said, “and lawyers don’t tell them.”
Collaborative Divorce
Collaborative divorce offers a gentler and kinder approach that can also equate to less time and less money spent. During the collaborative divorce process you work with four people: two lawyers (one for each spouse), a mental health coach, and a financial professional. The team works together to put together your divorce agreement, including alimony, child support and visitation, and marital property division. “The rewards of collaborative divorce are huge,” said Jenkins. “You learn to work out issues and say things in a better way.”
Shorter Time and Less Hit to the Wallet
On average, a collaborative divorce can save you time and money. The average collaborative divorce is $32,000 in comparison to a divorce that goes to trial, during which you may pay $100,00. “People are raiding their retirement accounts just to pay for divorces,” said Rackham Karlsson, a collaborative attorney that practices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “Going to court can be more expensive, more time intensive and corrosive for children.”
According to Jenkins, the average collaborative divorce can take three to four months to settle. She added that trial cases can drag on for three years. There’s also no control over the timing, process, or the outcome of the case because it’s up to the judge to make the final decision.
Collaborative Divorce
If you feel you might be a good candidate for collaborative divorce, you should contact a collaborative divorce attorney that can hear your case and start putting together a team.
Source: CNBC, How to avoid a nasty and costly divorce war, February 26, 2015
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