Is Collaborative Divorce Cheaper?

If you are approaching a divorce in North Carolina, it makes sense to save money. Even if you are a high-net-worth individual with plenty of cash to spare, there is no reason to needlessly throw away your hard-earned wealth. A divorce may be expensive for many reasons. You may need to divide your property, hand over child support payments, and provide your ex with alimony payments. On top of that, you also need to consider the various legal expenses that go with divorce. If you are trying to save money, a collaborative divorce may be on your radar. But how can this option save you money? And is it really the best choice?

Each divorce is different, and you really need to book a face-to-face consultation with a legal professional in order to receive targeted, personalized advice. A collaborative divorce might not be the best choice for everyone, but it can certainly be beneficial for a large portion of divorcing couples in North Carolina. A qualified collaborative divorce attorney in the Tar Heel State can assess your unique situation, recommend a certain course of action, and help you dissolve your marriage.

First of all, you should know that litigated divorces can be quite costly. The term “litigated divorce” refers to a divorce that goes through the trial process in a courtroom setting. This is still considered the “normal” or “traditional” way to obtain a divorce, although collaborative law is quickly rising in popularity. So, why are litigated divorces so expensive?

First, you have to remember that legal fees typically depend on how long you require the assistance of your attorney. If you work with them for many months, you can expect significant legal fees. In other words, the quicker you resolve your divorce, the cheaper it will be. A litigated divorce may also come with additional expenses associated with a courtroom setting, especially if there are many appeals and delays.

As you might expect, collaborative law is cheaper because it does not take as long. With this approach, you will only need to hire your attorney for a limited amount of time, and this allows you to lower costs. But why is a collaborative divorce so much quicker to deal with?

Firstly, the vast majority of the collaborative law process takes place outside of the courtroom setting. Instead of waiting for weeks or months to have your scheduled day in court, you can meet with your spouse in a private, comfortable setting alongside the attorneys. One attorney will represent your interests, while your spouse will hire their own attorney.

The goal of these sessions is to create a separation agreement. If both spouses can agree upon most aspects of their divorce without too many issues, the separation agreement can be drafted quickly and efficiently. In some cases, it only takes a matter of days to create this legal document. The next step is to simply schedule a hearing, during which a judge will look over the separation agreement and approve it. Once the judge signs off on the separation agreement, it becomes legally binding.

Because this process can be resolved very quickly, you can expect lower attorney fees, fewer court costs, and a cheaper overall divorce.

Spouses can make their divorces even cheaper by meeting with each other before their attorneys get involved. If both spouses talk about how they wish to handle their divorce and come to an understanding before the collaborative law process begins, drafting the agreement becomes even easier. In this situation, the attorneys merely assist in creating the separation agreement and no disputes or negotiations are necessary. Of course, this is only possible if both spouses split on amicable terms and have no major disputes about how their divorce should be handled.

If you have been searching for a qualified divorce attorney who has experience with collaborative law, look no further than Arnold & Smith, PLLC. Over the years, we have assisted numerous couples in North Carolina, including those who are looking for cost-effective divorce solutions. As you can see, collaborative divorce provides many cost-saving opportunities, and it can be a smart decision for spouses of all walks of life. There are also many other benefits of collaborative divorce. The best way to explore all of your legal options is to book a consultation with us as soon as possible, so do not hesitate to reach out today.