When it comes to divorce in Missouri, the decisions you make are often binding and can affect you and your dependents for a long time. If you think that a collaborative divorce is the best way for you and your partner to split, it may surprise you to learn that it is not for everyone.
No two divorce situations are identical. You may see similarities in your friends’ collaborative divorces that mimic your situation. However, you need to keep in mind there are reasons why this type of divorce may not be a good option for you. Take some time to review the following factors that may indicate that you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse should consider other divorce options.
There is no guaranteed peace
It is a common misperception that collaborative divorces help to maintain the peace. While it is necessary for both parties to be on good speaking terms with each other, the collaboration process does not mean that they will stay that way. Throughout the negotiations, you may run across issues that you are not willing to concede on and may not agree with your former partner about.
You and your partner may have ambivalent feelings that get in the way of your discussions, causing a breakdown in the process. If you cannot reach a collaborative agreement with your spouse, then you may have to end the collaborations and take your divorce to court.
It can be expensive
As mentioned before, collaborative divorces do not always work out. For you to choose that option, you must put off filing for separation through the courts and hire a mediator and an attorney. If you decide that you are not willing to invest more time in the process and feel that going through the courts is a better option, you must hire a new legal team and pay any associated filing fees.
If you are trying to keep your divorce expenses down, you may want to consider filing and going through the litigation process instead. That way if you and your partner cannot agree in court, the judge will base your decree on the information he or she has, according to the law and what he or she deems fair.
