Fort Collins
Contested Divorce Lawyer

Family Law Alternative Solutions to a Contested Divorce

Though divorcing couples may struggle over disagreement with commonly contested issues, they may agree on wanting to avoid going to court. When this is the case, a few alternative family law solutions to a contested divorce may work. These include:

• Collaborative Law: Collaborative law is when both parties and their attorneys work together to agree on the divorce's terms. If they are successful, they will draft a legal document filed with the court. This is often an attractive option for couples looking to maintain a civil relationship after the divorce.
• Divorce Mediation: In divorce mediation, both parties meet with a neutral third-party mediator who will help them try to agree on the terms of their divorce. The mediator does not make any decisions but helps facilitate communication and understanding between the two parties. This is good for couples who want more control over their divorce's outcome.
• Arbitration: Arbitration is a process where both parties present their case to an arbitrator who will then decide on the terms of the divorce. This is often a good option for couples who want to avoid going to court but are unable to agree on their own.

Going to court is not an inevitable outcome when getting a divorce. There are several family law alternative solutions to a contested divorce that may be more beneficial for you and your spouse to consider.

What to Expect in a Contested Divorce

If you are in a contested divorce, it's important to understand how you can best be prepared. Here are a few things you can expect:

• It will take longer: A contested divorce can take months or even years to resolve, whereas an uncontested divorce can be completed in as little as a few weeks. Not being able to come to an agreement on the terms of your divorce dramatically impacts how quickly both parties can move on with their lives.
• It will be more expensive: A contested divorce is also typically more expensive than an uncontested divorce. This is because contested divorces often require more time from legal stakeholders which can rack up additional legal fees. For some, the added cost may be worth it if they feel they need to fight for what's fair. For others, this may influence some of their decisions about what to fight for in the divorce.
• You may need to go to court: If you are unable to come to an agreement on the terms of your divorce, and you have not found success in any alternative dispute resolution methods, you may need to go to court. This means that a judge will make binding decisions about your divorce. Going to court can also be a lengthy and expensive process that can take its toll emotionally.
• You will need to compromise: In a contested divorce, both parties will need to be willing to compromise to come to an agreement. This means that both parties will need to be willing to give up some of what they want in order to reach a resolution. For some, this can be a difficult pill to swallow. But for others, it may be worth it to finally have the divorce resolved.
• You will need to communicate: In a contested divorce, both parties must be able to communicate effectively to reach an agreement. This means being able to listen to each other, as well as being able to express your own needs and wants. If you are not able to communicate effectively, having the support of a mediator or lawyer is beneficial.