Cleveland Family Law Attorneys

Costs Of A Collaborative Divorce Compared To Litigation

There are many different reasons that lead couples in Ohio to divorce. However, one thing that is clear is that the couple is no longer getting along. This means that people can be going through different emotions, which can initially cause their decision-making to be clouded. However, there are many very important decisions that need to be made while the couple goes through the process of separating their lives.

There are different options that people have while they go through this process. They could try and just discuss the issues themselves and complete the process themselves. They could use mediation or collaborative divorce to utilize attorneys and neutrals to assist them in reaching agreements. Couples could also litigate their divorce and eventually have a trial and have a judge make the decisions for them. All of these options will eventually resolve the divorce, but each process is different and creates different complications.

Each option also varies in cost. Litigation is generally the most expensive option and studies generally say that divorces will cost $15,000 – $30,000. However, that usually results if the parties litigate the matter. Generally, options like using the collaborative divorce process can save couples a considerable amount. This is because during the collaborative divorce process the couple and their attorneys are all focused on cooperation and not on trying to win the divorce. This generally means that couples spend less time which means fewer costs. Also, it saves the costs of hiring experts and other witnesses necessary for a trial.

Divorces are becoming more and more common in Ohio and many people get divorced each year. These couples will have to resolve issues such as child custody, child support, alimony, asset division, and others. How they resolve these issues varies greatly, but using certain processes such as collaborative divorce can make the divorce much less expensive. Experienced attorneys who are trained in the collaborative divorce process may be able to help guide people through that process.