The divorce rate has hit a 50-year low, and while that’s fantastic news, it doesn’t mean that divorces are uncommon. Couples go through the difficult divorce process every day.
A divorce is nothing to be ashamed of, and believe it or not, it doesn’t have to be a complicated legal issue. You have other options. You can even have a divorce without a court hearing.
If you and your spouse want to make your divorce as private and painless as possible, we’re here to help. Read on to learn all about court-free divorce options.
Collaborative Divorce
A collaborative divorce is a great option for any former couple who needs help with the process but also doesn’t want to take things to court.
During a collaborative divorce, both spouses still have attorneys on their side. The attorneys and spouses work together during group sessions to come to an agreement.
Many spouses who want the security of having legal representation prefer this method. It’s less likely for either spouse to be treated unfairly. Lawyers can also answer any important divorce questions if they come up during the negotiation process.
With this in mind, if negotiations aren’t successful and the spouses have to go to court anyway, the lawyers that they chose wouldn’t be able to represent them.
Divorce Mediation
This is a great option for any spouses that may not have a 100% amicable divorce, but are still on good enough terms to resolve things with an experienced professional mediator.
During the mediation process, spouses can have lawyers, but they’re not necessary (and are sometimes harmful). Some mediators are also divorce lawyers, but in this situation, they’re trying to help the spouses come to an agreement together rather than representing individual spouses.
The spouses will come to the mediator with financial information and details about the divorce and relationship. With that information, the mediator will help the former couple create a written agreement.
Divorce mediation is far more affordable than a traditional contested divorce as long as neither spouse chooses to also hire a divorce lawyer.
Resolving Problems on Your Own
This is the trickiest method, but it’s also the most affordable and the least stressful (in most cases).
If the spouses ended their relationship on good terms, they may be able to resolve their issues independently without the need for lawyers or mediators. This requires some research, but the former couple can (and should) work together to make sure that everything goes smoothly.
It’s more complicated if there are children involved or if one spouse needs to receive alimony, but again, if the spouses ended things on good terms, it shouldn’t be too big of a problem.
Spouses will each still need to hire a (separate) divorce lawyer to finalize the settlement.
You Can Have a Divorce Without a Court Hearing
Your divorce doesn’t have to turn into a huge legal issue. While a divorce is a legal process, you can make it less painful (and less expensive) by choosing to resolve your problems on your own, go through a mediator, or have a collaborative divorce in order to go through a divorce without a court hearing.
Divorce is never easy, but you can get through it. Good luck. For more helpful articles about family and more, visit the rest of our site.