There are four general “types” of divorce: the do-it-yourself, mediation, collaborative, and litigated divorce. Each of these styles possesses their pros and cons. Some may be cheaper. Some only work if both spouses are cooperative, while some other favor the spouse with greater financial flexibility. This post will briefly discuss each method to divorce.
Do-it-yourself divorces are, hopefully, the cheapest option. But you face a myriad of legal challenges and pitfalls that could impact your ability to recover your fair share of the marital property. This method is especially undesirable if your ex-spouse is utilizing a lawyer. Divorce decrees are not easily changed and the way to accomplish that change is complicated. It is far better to get your divorce correct the first time around.
Mediated divorces are still accomplished by the couples, but you have a go-between to ease the transition. Typically both couples pay for the mediator, and the mediator works to bring the couples together and to compromise. Mediated divorces are cheaper, faster, easier on children, and usually, result in better relations between the ex-spouses once the divorce is finalized. But mediation does not work if the parties are unable to agree or compromise, they can favor one spouse over the other, and many times fail to address all of the issues.
As you can see, there are many alternatives to a “traditional” divorce. However, many of them come with their pros and cons. Before you settle on a final strategy for your divorce, you should speak to a lawyer to ensure that you understand the ramifications of every option. The last thing you need is a court to bar you from recovering property that is rightfully yours. A lawyer can guide you through each option to ensure that you make the best choice for you.
