Going through a divorce is probably one of the most painful and overwhelming events an individual can go through, next to the death of a loved one. It is the ending of a bond that two people shared, and the erasure of the future that had once held promise.
Divorce shouldn’t automatically equate lawyers, guns and money, but a good family law attorney can assist in ensuring that the interests of each party are protected without squandering the parties resources on attorney’s fees.
Collaborative Divorce
In a collaborative divorce, the parties have agreed to part amicably and are able to work together and draft and sign the necessary documents in order to obtain a judgment. A judgment will most likely be obtained within 6 months.
In this type of situation, the parties could either draft and file all the documents on their own, or one of the parties might retain an attorney to assist both parties in getting the necessary documents drafted and filed.
Or, each party might retain an attorney and let the attorneys assist in negotiating the final marital settlement agreement between the parties. It’s quite possible that there will not have to be any court visits.
A collaborative divorce significantly reduces the amount of money a party will spend on attorney’s fees. However, do not hire a “collaborative divorce expert” unless he or she is an attorney. A non-attorney can help you draft the paperwork necessary for a divorce and an agreement, but a non-attorney cannot give you legal advice! If you retain an attorney to assist you with a collaborative divorce, not only can the attorney prepare the paperwork, the attorney can advise you as to the law on every aspect of your case.
Contested Divorce
However, if the parties are in disagreement as to custody, support, and/or property division, or if there are restraining order issues, it can take a bit longer to obtain a final judgment.
In addition to extra paperwork, there may be several court hearings, and there could be a trial, all resulting in additional attorney’s fees.
Anne Marie Healy is experienced in all of the situations mentioned above. Ms. Healy prefers to settle the cases without going to court, but has the experience needed to go to court and aggressively represent her client’s interests.
All of the issues that a person may face during a divorce are not addressed here. If you have any specific questions pertaining to your divorce, please click here.