When a couple in Virginia decides to end their marriage, there are many factors to consider. Examples include property division, child custody and financial settlements. All of these factors, however, can lead to a very complicated, drawn-out process if couples are not aware of the options they have for divorce proceedings.
The traditional divorce method is through litigation. This means that each person hires an attorney to represent them and look out for their best interests. Traditional divorces can be emotionally-charged, take months or even years and become quite expensive.
However, couples can choose other methods that might result in shorter, more amicable divorces. One option is the uncontested divorce, which means that the couple works together to find an equitable settlement that is beneficial to both parties and any children. One lawyer can draft and present the settlement to the court for approval. Another method couples can use is mediation, which involves hiring a mediation lawyer to negotiate with both parties and their lawyers to come to an agreement. While this method means that couples might pay three lawyers instead of one, the settlements are normally reached very quickly.
A fourth method available to couples is using a team of experts for a collaborative divorce. The team includes a lawyer for each party, a financial advisor and a mental health expert to help family members deal with the divorce. If a couple chooses this method, they should be aware of the costs and timeline for the process.
No matter the divorce method a couple chooses to use, they might benefit from the guidance a family law lawyer could provide. This may include information about divorce legislation, options available to the couple and the results they might expect.