Ending your marriage away from a New Jersey courtroom may help you obtain a favorable settlement in a timely manner. Furthermore, you’ll likely be able to do so at a fraction of the cost of settling a divorce through litigation. Let’s take a closer look at the potential benefits of a divorce that is handled through alternative dispute resolution.
You’ll have more input into the structure of the final settlement
During mediation, you work with your spouse to create terms that are in each person’s best interest. For example, you might agree to waive your right to the family home in exchange for a greater share of a retirement account. If you allow a judge to create the terms of a divorce decree, there is no guarantee that he or she will do what you think is right or fair. Although a judge will need to sign off on a parenting plan before it goes into effect, its terms can also be negotiated during a mediation session.
A collaborative divorce can help your children
If you share a child with your spouse, avoiding litigation can shield them from the toxic elements of a divorce proceeding. This is because the details of any settlement reached outside of court will be kept out of public view. Therefore, after agreeing to terms with your child’s other parent, you can simply focus on doing what is in your son or daughter’s best interest.
An attorney may be able to help you learn more about both mediation and the collaborative divorce process and its potential benefits. If necessary, counsel may help to negotiate a favorable agreement outside of court. In some cases, an attorney will simply review any agreement that is reached during informal talks to ensure that they are in your best interest.