Family Law Options in Spokane, Washington: Is a Collaborative Divorce Right for You?

     U.S. News and World Report, collaborative divorce processes assume that every divorce can be settled in a manner that allows both parties to make compromises they can live with.

       We hear many stories about tough, difficult, and highly contentious divorces. Divorce is never easy for any couple—even for couples who agree on how to split property, divide child-rearing roles, and handle assets. Yet, more couples who are getting divorced are choosing collaborative divorce to resolve their differences. According to

For couples facing serious disagreements, this model may seem unrealistic, but, collaborative divorce has been gaining popularity—while the number of people who choose it remains low. Collaborative divorce isn’t for everyone, and sometimes couples go through the collaborative process only to realize that they still have face litigation to resolve their differences. So, is a collaborative divorce right for you?

During a collaborative divorce, both parties will generally hire family law attorneys like Connie Powell with Powell Law Offices, P.S. to represent their best interests. However, rather than fighting it out in court, couples meet with their attorneys—and sometimes also therapists and other consultants to help them resolve their differences. In the best of circumstances, couples draft a divorce plan that meets their needs and end their marriage peacefully. In some cases, divorcing couples hire one family law lawyer between them to serve as a mediator. If you and your former spouse generally agree on how you’ll divide property, time with the children, and debts, a mediator can look over your agreement to ensure that it is in accordance with Washington law. However, if you anticipate disagreements, but don’t want to fight these out in court, it may be wise for each person to hire his or her attorney.

Having your own attorney has its benefits. You have someone on your side who will fight for your legal rights and inform you about what you are entitled to under the law.

Collaborative divorces can save money—when they work. Individuals do not have to spend money to prepare for litigation or long court battles. Instead, meetings are held out of court where differences are resolved. However, when collaborative processes fail, individuals risk spending more money on their divorce because they still have to pay for legal fees for litigation.

At the end of the day, each person has to assess his or her financial, personal and emotional state before deciding to opt for collaborative divorce. If your divorce is largely amicable, it may be a great course to take. However, if you anticipate a fight or a stalemate, going straight to litigation may be best.

Forbes reminds couples embarking on the collaborative process that these processes can fail—and when they do—you’ll have to start over. If you’re already going through a highly emotional divorce, a failed collaborative process can be devastating. Even if you do use collaborative processes, you’ll still need to go to court for a judge to approve your agreement—so don’t think that a collaborative process will allow you to skip the courts altogether. Finally, during collaborative divorce, disclosure of assets and property is voluntary. A great deal of trust is placed in each party in a collaborative divorce.

Whatever path you choose to take, if you’re getting divorced in Spokane, Washington, it is important that you speak to a family law attorney like www.powelllawoffices.net who can help you understand your rights and options.