Most people view divorce as a battle of wills fought in court among ferocious divorce attorneys and their clients. Litigation is only one way of resolving divorce disputes and is at times inevitable. There are however other resolution methods you can use and keep your divorce out of court.
Unfortunately, even out-of-court settlements come with various issues you have to deal with. A child custody attorney in Colorado Springs is indispensable to help you to navigate matters relating your kids’ well-being after divorce whether settled out of court or otherwise.
With that said, below are some out-of-court methods of divorce resolution you can choose.
1. Mediation
In this path, the couple uses a neutral mediator to help both parties reach an agreement. The mediator has to be well-versed in family and divorce law.
Mediation reduces your expenses and results in an excellent long-term association with your ex. It also expedites a divorce agreement and is easier on your children.
2. Collaboration
In a collaborative divorce, both spouses hire experienced lawyers to advise them on a settlement agreement. The process might also involve financial planners and therapists to advise you on how to handle different aspects of your divorce.
You have to appear before a judge to sign your agreement after a successful collaborative divorce. It is also quicker and less expensive than litigation.
3. Arbitration
In arbitration, both parties meet a neutral arbitrator and argue their case and leave the ultimate decision to the arbitrator. In most cases, the decision made by the arbitrator is final.
This method is best for couples with emotionally charged divorces as the settlement is based on fact. It is however not the best route if you wish to challenge or renegotiate your divorce settlement.
Collaboration, arbitration, and mediation are not the best options if you suspect your spouse is hiding some assets. This is because these methods only require voluntary information from the spouse and there exists no subpoena to compel them to disclose assets. In these cases, litigation is the best solution.
