Hire a Divorce Attorney? Think Twice.
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Anyone contemplating a divorce is likely thinking of hiring legal counsel, but there are other options.
Due Diligence When Hiring a Divorce Attorney
Some people may do like I did and simply use the recommendation of a friend while others might search the internet to gather information before choosing representation. Both are good ways and any due diligence has a significant advantage over dialing a phone number found on a legal ad. But there is another option that most people should consider and that is not retaining a lawyer at all, at least not initially.
I am not talking about do-it-yourself divorce. DYI divorce should be rare and even when one has performed an attorney should review the documents before submitting to the court. What I am proposing is that if someone’s marriage is ending, they hold off obtaining legal counsel until mediation and collaborative law are considered. Let me emphasize the word “before” because once one spouse pays a legal retainer and papers are served, it gets difficult to halt the litigation train steaming out of the station. However, if the couple finds mediation or collaborative law right for them then it is almost certain that they will save a lot of money and emotional grief.
Divorce Attornies and Litigation
Divorce litigation is an adversarial system (win-lose) where both sides fight for their positions in an ugly arena of dueling attorneys and court battles. Too often finances become exhausted or emotions end up so strained that the couple surrenders and accepts a settlement neither one wants (lose-lose).
Alternative – Working Together
On the other hand, mediation and collaborative law are based on the concept of recognizing people’s interests and finding ways to achieve solutions in a spirit of respect and mutual problem-solving. Mediators and collaborative lawyers conduct meetings where the interests of both the husband and wife are recognized and brainstorming is used to find ways of satisfying those interests (win-win).
There are additional benefits to using an alternative to divorce litigation. In mediation or collaborative law, a free exchange of information cuts the cost of discovery. In the case where a specialist is required to provide an opinion (e.g. real estate, child custody) the expert is shared rather than each spouse hiring his or her own. Three and four-way meetings are less formal than court and are conducted out of the public eye. And since there is a spirit of cooperation, the process is normally shorter which also helps it to be less expensive.
Mediation and collaborative law are not for everyone. Those experiencing serious domestic violence, dissipation of assets or threats to abscond with the children should seek traditional counsel in addition to contacting the proper authorities. However, if a couple is in a position to work it out instead of fighting it out, they will be in greater control of their future. And that will be better for both their pocketbooks and emotional well-being.
