How to Achieve a Smart and Cost-Effective Divorce
Sarah Zimmerman – Partner Family Law
Washington, DC Divorce Lawyer, Sarah Zimmerman discusses how to achieve a smart and cost-effective divorce.
I believe a client can often achieve a better outcome if they work together with their spouse and enter into a settlement agreement rather than seek court intervention. Going into a divorce, many clients have fears that include:
- Not being able to afford life after divorce
- Getting custody of their children
- Being alone in the divorce process
- Needing to make decisions on their own
The key to a smart and cost-effective divorce is to avoid those fears, look away from them, and seek out an attorney who will guide you, inform you, and empower you to make good decisions in your divorce. The second most important thing to do is to resist the inclination to hire an overly aggressive or litigious attorney. In many cases that will result in the opposite of what you are trying to achieve: a cost-effective, smart, and amicable divorce. For most of my clients either mediation, using an attorney or a neutral mediator, or the collaborative divorce process tend to help them reach an effective out of court settlement.
To clients facing separation, divorce, or custody issues, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do this alone. This process can be fraught with emotional and difficult times. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Identify an attorney, collaborative team, or a mediator that will help you, guide you and empower you through the process so you can move forward to the next chapter in your life.