Divorce is hard, and it is one of the most painful times in anyone’s life. Fear about the future will tend to put your dreams and plans on hold. -That fear though can be reduced if you take control of your divorce by learning more about your divorce options.- A Divorce Options® Workshop is one of the best ways to begin learning what you don’t know about divorce and to help you decide what options might work best for you.
What You Can Learn in the Divorce Options® Workshop
The Divorce Options® Workshop gives you details of four different ways to go about getting your divorce.
Traditional representation (going to court)
This is the method that most people know about for handling a divorce. One spouse files a petition with the court seeking a divorce. Both spouses have a lawyer for themselves. Your lawyer represents your interests in respect to property division, child custody, child support, and spousal support.
Each lawyer presents to the court the wishes of their own client. There may be court hearings where evidence is presented, and the judge makes a final decision on any issues that the two sides have not been able to resolve.
Do-it-yourself
Typically, a do-it yourself divorce is for couples who have no children under the age of 18, and who own little or no property together. They can get the proper forms from the court, fill them out, and file them with the court without legal assistance.
Mediation
In mediation, the couple meets together with a neutral mediator. The mediator does not represent either spouse. They may meet either with or without the presence of their own lawyer. Mediators are not supposed to give either spouse legal advice. They ask questions and guide discussions to help the couple make their own decisions about all the necessary divorce decisions.
Collaboration
In a collaborative divorce, the spouses and their lawyers are part of a team who all pledge to resolve the divorce issues without going to court. This respectful process generally ends with the couple taking charge of the final outcome with advice from their lawyers and other professionals about property division, child custody and support, and spousal support. The goal is to preserve the family relationships that will continue after the divorce. It makes it easier on the children as well, reduces the stress on the spouses, and is generally less expensive than traditional representation in court.
At a Divorce Options® Workshop, you will learn the pros and cons of each divorce process. It is a good idea, if possible, to attend with your spouse (although not required) so you can make the decision together as how you want to move forward.
The same workshop is regularly presented at multiple locations throughout California. Information on a Divorce Options® Workshop near you is available at https://cpcal.com/divorce-options-workshop/divorce-options-workshop-schedule/