Do You Need to Hire a Divorce Attorney?
>> Friday, April 12, 2019
Often couples getting a divorce in Florida wonder if there are alternatives to hiring a divorce attorney that might make the process easier and faster. While mediator services exist, it is often better to go with a robust advocate who can shepherd your documents through the system quickly, even if you don't expect there to be a lot of contention. Mediator services work if both sides are committed to them and there are no major conflicts, but they also tend to hit roadblocks if there are significant differences that arise during the process. Even if you don't expect to litigate, hiring your own attorney is a good strategy for staying informed of your rights and options.
If you want to make sure your rights are robustly protected and you want to avoid a contentious litigation process, the two parties' attorneys can negotiate through a process called collaborative practice. It is basically the same negotiation process the court asks couples to go through before requiring a hearing, but less adversarial and with both parties agreeing to avoid litigation. It shares many characteristics with mediation when it comes to avoiding conflict and resolving the situation quickly, but with the extra advantage of having recourse to the courts if there is an insurmountable roadblock to negotiation, without the need to hire attorneys and bring them up to speed.
An experienced divorce attorney Tampa can review your options with you and help you figure out how to proceed, and it's a good idea to at least consult with an attorney before deciding to move forward. Even if you eventually opt for a mediated divorce, you won't know for sure that it's the best option for you if you don't have legal advice that is informed about your specific situation.
Don't be caught off-guard by a process that starts amicably and then turns into a contest of wills. Make sure you keep your options open and protect your rights by consulting with experienced attorneys at every step of your decision-making process.
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