Benefits of Collaborative Divorce in Illinois
When you think of divorce, you might think of litigation in a courtroom with a judge handing down decisions, or a couple in a lawyer’s office arguing with each other, voices raised, about who gets to keep the family home. While popular culture would lead you to believe this is how divorce is, in reality, it does not have to be that way. When you think of getting a divorce, you do not have to go the traditional litigated route - you have options. One of those options is to go with a collaborative divorce, or one in which you both work together to settle your disputes outside of the courtroom. This has turned out to be beneficial for many couples for many reasons. Here are a couple of reasons why you should consider going with a collaborative divorce:
The Process Can Be More Affordable
Because you are settling issues in various meetings, rather than in the courtroom, you are not having to pay court costs and fees every time you try to settle something. Rather, you can make it a point to come to a decision about certain things during each meeting, cutting down on the number of meetings you will actually need to have.
You Have More Control Over Your Outcomes
One of the main benefits of collaborative divorce is the ability to actually control what happens to you and your family’s futures. In a collaborative divorce, both you and your spouse work with your separate attorneys to come to a decision on certain topics that will most benefit your family. In a litigated divorce, the judge will make decisions for you in accordance with state laws if you and your spouse cannot come to a decision on your own. Often times, the decision that the judge makes is not necessarily in you or your family’s best interest. Collaborative divorce allows you to do what is best for your situation.
You Can Choose How Long the Divorce Process Is
In a collaborative divorce, you are not relying on the availability of judges and the court’s schedule. You get to settle issues on your own time, meaning you have the power to make the divorce process as long or as short as you would like it to be. Instead of waiting months between court hearings, you can schedule meetings as frequently as you want, meaning your divorce could possibly be over within a year.
Get in Touch With a DuPage County Collaborative Divorce Attorney
While most divorces will have some sort of conflict when hashing out specifics and certainly no divorce will be easy, a collaborative divorce might be your best option for a minimally stressful divorce. With help from a trained Aurora collaborative divorce lawyer, you can have peace of mind knowing you and your family’s futures are in good hands. Contact the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. at 630-409-8184 to begin your collaborative divorce process.
Sources:
https://www.familycircle.com/family-fun/relationships/collaborative-divorce-benefits/
https://www.americanbar.org/publications/gp_solo/2015/january-february/family_law_collaborative_divorce_why_underwhelming_advance.html
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-collaborative-divorce-is-a-route-worth-considering_us_59d11372e4b0f58902e5cd2d