Around a million couples get a divorce in the USA every year. Most couples desire for the divorce to be amicable but are often left angry, resentful, and with less money than when they started the traditional court-based divorce process.
There is a better way.
The collaborative divorce process has six significant advantages over the traditional court-based process:
1. Better Relationship with Your Ex-Spouse
Divorce court has a way of turning a bad relationship with your spouse into a nasty one with your ex-spouse. Divorce court inevitably creates a them versus you battle in an effort to convince the judge they deserve more of something: money, possessions, and in some cases, time with their children. It’s not surprising when the two parties emerge from these proceedings with an even more adversarial relationship than they did when it started.
The collaborative divorce process is just that: collaborative. You are both in control and make decisions together. When it’s over, you both walk away knowing you made the best of a tough decision. You are more readily able to move forward with your lives. You may never be friends again, but you won’t be enemies either.
2. Easier on the Children
The divorce court process which often damages the parent-to-parent relationship, can have harmful, long-term effects on the children too. If parents regularly speak in a disparaging way about each other in front of their children, it puts children in the psychologically damaging spot of choosing to defend the other parent, deciding whether to tell the other parent what their one parent said, mediating the conflict, or even choosing a side.
Through an amicable, mutually agreed upon collaborative divorce, often parents come out of the other side with a stronger relationship than when they started the process. They may no longer love each other or want to live together, but they’re still communicative co-parenting partners.
Children old enough to understand will learn a valuable lesson in conflict resolution. They will know their parents worked together in their best interest, rather than battling it out in court.
3. Lower Costs
Attorney fees and court costs are expensive. By the time you’re done battling out who is getting what, there is less to split up. On average a collaborative divorce costs 50% less than a court-based divorce.
The collaborative divorce process can be completed by paying two attorneys for their time plus the cost to write up the legally binding agreement.
4. Speedy Results
Securing your day in court can take months, and the preparation and anticipation leading up to that day can be extremely stressful. After that, it can drag out for months if not years.
With a collaborative divorce process, a couple can get started right away, and meet for as many sessions as it takes to reach an agreement.
5. Smooth Process
Since you’re both working together towards a mutually agreed upon decision, it’s a lot less bumpy of a process. Every part of the process happens on your terms, so it all tends to go more smoothly than the alternative.
6. Satisfied with the Outcome
Your opinions are heard. And at the end of the process, there isn’t a judge ruling at the end making significant decisions impacting your life. It’s your life, and so you’re in control to decide what’s fair and what’s right.
Schedule a Consultation with Alexander and Doyle
If you need an experienced divorce attorney in Cary or the greater Wake County area, contact Alexander & Doyle, PA today. Call us at 919-380-1001, or fill out the form below.