Divorce Resolution Options
Continuum
The decision to divorce is followed by a
number of choices for how a case might be filed and later resolved. Some of the steps are
a loop, and other may be mixed and matched, but the general continuum, from least
confrontational to most confrontational, is:
- Decision to Divorce
- No response; spouse ignores petition, or is missing --
proceed by Default
- Kitchen Table discussion on how to resolve case,
do-it-yourself (DIY) papers
- See a lawyer, get an idea of rights, then resolve around the
Kitchen Table and DIY
- Use a paralegal or one lawyer to draft the papers, no
individual representation
- Individual representation with lawyer for one party only who
helps parties settle informally, without court
- Mediation
- Mediation with lawyers involved, to a more or lesser degree
- Collaborative law model
- Start litigation
- Litigation at first but ultimately settle
- Litigation at first, but use Private Judge or Arbitrator for
final decision
- Litigation and Trial
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