There are many different paths when it comes to going through a divorce. Ultimately, there is a method to get it done, no matter what you two are willing to do together, and can afford. From hands-on, collaborative means, to correspondence only through attorneys— the point is, there are plenty of methods for you to choose from. But, there are typically four common divorce options that people will choose from. So, we’re going to lay it all out there for you, that way— you know just what to do when or if the time comes.
Four Common Divorce Options: Which Path is Best for Us?
Collaborative Divorce
A collaborative divorce is pretty indicative of it’s name. Both spouses will hire their attorneys, and together, you will draft an agreement that meets both of your needs. In this scenario, you skip the courtroom, the judge, and you build an agreement on your own. The one thing to keep in mind about this method is that you have to be able to collaborate with one another, and be willing to give. Sure, you get to skip the courtroom and a judge making choices for you. But, in turn, you have to make those decisions amongst yourselves. This route really only takes as long as you let it, but if you find yourselves stuck— you’ll need to go before a judge anyway. So, make sure this route is right for you before you start.
Mediated Divorce
A mediated divorce is pretty closely related to a collaborative divorce. Ultimately, the main differences comes in how you do the mediation itself. In this scenario, you have one neutral mediator instead of having one for each of you. One of the upsides to this is that mediator has no bias, and therefore can work quite efficiently instead of pushing for one outcome versus the other. The mediator will spend time making decisions that benefit you both, and helping the process move forward smoothly, instead of spending time going back and forth with someone else. When it comes to this route, it can be a great option of the four common divorce paths, however we do suggest having a third party attorney look over the agreement you draft before signing it.
DIY Divorce
A DIY divorce is also quite indicative of it’s name. A DIY divorce is probably the most ill-advised of all four common divorce options. In short, when there are assets to split— you need legal intervention. While this route can be very cheap if you work together, there is no doubt some part will fall through the cracks. In turn, someone gets the short end of the stick. Some people have no other option besides to do the DIY route. So, if you must, take the time and do the research. List out assets, ask some questions. See if any attorney’s offer a free consultation— many do, and there are no strings attached. You want to keep costs low, and we understand that. So, if you must— DIY your divorce. However we do suggest that in the end, you pay for an attorney to look over your agreement before signing.
Litigated Divorce
This is the most traditional route, and the most common one because of that. Litigated divorce does not always mean court— most of these cases are settled outside of the courtroom. This approach typically arises when one party is pushing for divorce, and the other does not want it. When only one party is willingly divorcing, the other three options are unavailable— as they are collaborative.
