If you choose a better divorce by using the collaborative divorce method, it's likely you will save money over traditional litigation. From the perspective of a litigator who has fought many cases in court, very few people come out happy with the financial or emotional outcome chosen by the judge. The judge, though they mean well, does not know you personally. The system is not designed to allow the judge to get to know you or dive deep into what is important to you. The Court, generally, may find something else important and sideline your viewpoint. The reality is fighting a case in court can be one of the most expensive, emotionally taxing methods to divorce. When a party is not happy at the end of a trial, there is also the option to appeal – leading to an even more expensive process.
Choosing an alternative to a divorce in court can cost you less, even with a team of professionals helping you along the way. How is that possible? The goal of Nevada Collaborative Divorce is to have a mediation-style meeting. This process tends to decrease acrimony, focus on the needs of both sides, and allow you to talk things out. Accompanying you are the jointly-hired financial professional and the emotional support of your coach and attorney. Questions can be answered on the spot, instead of letters or emails back and forth over days or weeks. When both sides are ready to talk and get the case resolved, a meaningful back-and-forth discussion can take place. People feel heard.
When people feel heard, they tend to listen more. The entire process puts both sides’ needs at the forefront of the process. Cutting out the tactical planning and gamesmanship that is part of fighting in court can save thousands of dollars. While there is no way to quote a set amount because every family is different and everyone has different goals, the process is designed to have meaningful meetings that resolve the case efficiently.
The primary benefit of going with a collaborative divorce is that it puts your needs at the front and center of the discussion. This may seem strange, but when fighting a case in court, your goals will not always align with the Court or attorney’s goals. Believe it or not, there are some attorneys that will sell you on how “aggressive” they can be. This translates to more work for the lawyer and means fighting over each perceived wrong, filing motions, and making arguments to press your side to “win” with the judge. Not only is this expensive, but it can be emotionally exhausting (for both sides). Any goodwill you may have had with your soon-to-be-ex-spouse is burned to the ground.
If you have a discussion in an open meeting and value your own perspective along with respecting your spouse’s point of view (even if you disagree with it), you can make headway by working together instead of using a system designed to make you adversaries. The mental health coaches are trained to help the parties communicate more effectively. Focusing on what you agree on instead of where you disagree can take you further down the road of settlement. Certainly, there are points where both sides have a tough time (alimony comes to mind). But the reality is explaining this, with divorce professionals there to guide you, can create divorce terms you can live with.
If you are considering an alternative to divorcing in court, give our team a call. We'll walk you through the process and explain the many benefits of a collaborative divorce. We look forward to working with you towards a money-saving, emotionally-beneficial divorce for both parties.
