When you and your spouse decide to divorce, there are many concerns that arise. Many of these are financial in nature: child support, asset division, spousal support, etc.
Like many couples, you and your spouse may be looking for ways to save money during your divorce. U.S. News and World Report explains the potential financial benefits of a collaborative process.
1. You retain control
When you litigate your divorce, you put your fate in the hands of the judge, who will have only a few hours to hear your case. It is unlikely that this will be enough time to gain a complete understanding of your situation. The judge certainly will not gain the depth of understanding that you and your spouse already possess. Collaborative divorce allows you and your spouse to negotiate a plan that works for both of you based on your existing knowledge of your situation.
2. You save on attorney’s fees
It costs far more to litigate a divorce than it does to negotiate it collaboratively. There are several reasons for this, one of which is that collaborative divorce takes less time than you would spend going to court. If one of your primary concerns about the divorce is how much it will cost, that is a major reason to consider collaborative divorce over the traditional process.
3. You gain a greater understanding of your finances
An adversarial divorce process can drain your emotions and energy. To put a stop to it, you may agree to less than what you deserve. Because the collaborative process is non-adversarial, you may feel more comfortable standing up for your rights.