As you may already know, you have numerous options when ending your marriage. In addition to litigation, your other choices include uncontested means, such as mediation and collaborative law. However, as we at the Law Offices Of Sheara F. Friend understand, each marriage in Massachusetts is different, and not all divorce methods work the same way for everyone.
You may know that there are many benefits to an uncontested divorce. The American Bar Association points out that mediation and collaborative law may cost less, take less time and be less stressful than taking your divorce disputes to court. Uncontested divorce is also private, rather than being a matter of public record, and you can learn valuable communication and negotiation techniques by resolving your disputes amicably.
However, there is a flip side to the uncontested divorce coin. Those who participate in collaborative law or mediation must be able to treat each other civilly and be open to compromise. You must also be able to accept the possibility of not having everything go your way. Additionally, there are some factors that would likely necessitate the assistance of a judge in a litigated divorce. These include domestic violence, substance abuse or one’s spouse having a significant financial advantage over the other.
As our page on uncontested divorce explains, it is important to understand both the advantages and limitations of each divorce method you are considering. It can help to seek experienced legal counsel when making the decision of how to proceed with your divorce.