Divorces are inherently time-consuming and cost money. If a couple can negotiate the terms of their divorce settlement instead of going to court, their divorce is typically over with sooner and less expensive. An experienced attorney can assist in negotiating a divorce settlement.
Divorce is a process that is difficult to face for many reasons, depending on the situation and each couple. One common denominator for most divorces is that spouses want a quick and inexpensive divorce. Being able to have such a divorce can make the process easier in several ways. While there is no magic wand that any Huntsville divorce attorney can wave to speed up your divorce and decrease its costs, you can pursue an uncontested divorce by negotiating with your spouse. A negotiated or uncontested divorce takes time and effort, but it is generally less expensive and time-consuming than a contested divorce.
A divorce in which the spouses cannot reach agreements on the more significant issues such as child support and custody, alimony, and the division of assets and debts, is known as a contested divorce. Since the spouses cannot agree on these terms, the family court judge will decide. The couple is at the mercy of the court scheduled as to when the judge can hear their case. Depending on the divorce court, this can set your divorce back several months. You may also need to go before the judge more than once, each time having to wait until the court’s schedule can accommodate you. For many family courts, the waiting time has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.
If a couple can work with their attorneys to negotiate agreements on the crucial issues, the judge overseeing their divorce will simply need to sign off on their terms. The couple will not need to wait on court dates.
When couples don’t agree and work out solutions that they can each live with, it requires more work and time from a Huntsville divorce lawyer. Attorneys may need to file more petitions with the court, make more court appearances, and spend more time talking to the other spouse’s attorney. If the couple has kids, the judge might order a child custody evaluation to be done by a trained psychologist who interviews each parent. This evaluation can come with a price tag of as little as $1,000 up to more than $10,000, depending on if a county or private evaluator is used.
Spouses who negotiate the terms of their divorce with a Huntsville divorce lawyer typically save money because they do not have as many legal expenses and do not have to rely on expert evaluation mandated by the court.
If saving time or money in your divorce is a priority, now is the time to meet with an experienced Huntsville divorce attorney. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who can work with you and your spouse to find mutually agreeable solutions as you both move forward with your separate lives. Schedule your divorce consultation by calling Cloud, Ryan & Rouse at 256-801-1000, or using our online contact form.
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