Oklahoma City Collaborative Divorce Lawyer
Traditional divorce proceedings are stressful and expensive, often leading to a lengthy divorce trial which costs time, energy, and money. For many couples, a divorce case can cause irreparable damage to the relationship due to disputes about the division of assets, child custody issues, and more.
Nowadays, many people opt for a collaborative divorce over a traditional divorce as it gives more control to spouses over important issues. Parties have the opportunity to sit down together with their collaborative lawyers and come to an agreement about their resources and children without having to go to court. A collaborative divorce can save a lot of time, money, and energy, and can help families remain civil after the divorce process.
If you are separating from your spouse and want to pursue a collaborative divorce in Oklahoma, you should contact us today at Cannon & Associates. Our law firm has a team of divorce lawyers who are experienced in managing collaborative divorces and can help guide you clearly through the process. They will explain to you how divorce mediation works and ensure that your needs are heard throughout the negotiation process.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation at 405-591-3935.
What is an Oklahoma City Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative divorce is similar to divorce mediation. The idea behind collaborative law is that parties facing a divorce will hire divorce lawyers to help them negotiate a settlement that is fair and takes into account both parties’ needs. These lawyers will use cooperative techniques to avoid litigation at all costs.
This means that rather than bringing all issues to an Oklahoma City courtroom and giving power to a judge to decide, spouses can take matters into their own hands, with the help of attorneys, and decide a settlement that is right for them and their families. Often, a family lawyer will bring in help from experts, such as property evaluators, financial consultants, mental health professionals, and child specialists.
Lawyers that begin a collaborative divorce process in Oklahoma county sign a ‘Participation Agreement’ with the parties involved. This provides that if an agreement cannot be reached through collaborative law, and the spouses want to take the case to a court, the collaborative lawyers will resign from the case. If the parties decide to take the case to court, they will have to seek legal services from new attorneys.
Benefits of Collaborative Law in Oklahoma City, OK
As discussed before, traditional divorce can be costly and stressful, and can sometimes cause irreparable damage to the family involved. When brought to an Oklahoma City court, clients have to put their marriage before the family law judge and hope that all matters will be divided and awarded fairly.
With collaborative divorce, however, clients have the opportunity to talk things through with their ex-partner and come to decisions that suit both parties. Some of the main benefits of collaborative divorce include:
- Privacy – Collaborative divorce proceedings are held outside of the district court, meaning that all discussions and documents and kept completely private. The settlement you achieve with your ex-spouse will not become a public record like it would in a traditional divorce.
- Best interests of the children – If you and your spouse have children together, a collaborative divorce is much more favorable for the interests of your children. Discussing child custody and family law matters in private can help protect them from the difficult process of an Oklahoma City court.
- Lower cost – Court costs are expensive, particularly if you and your ex-spouse cannot agree on anything and are arguing over every asset you both have. Keeping your case out of a courtroom and talking through issues with your partner and attorneys can help minimize costs substantially.
- No fixed timeline – Another benefit of collaborative divorce is that you can proceed at your own pace, without worrying about missing court dates or waiting for the court to have space on their calendar.
- Take control – When a divorce is dictated by a judge, they have the final decision on all matters. Judges make decisions based solely on the law and what they believe is the best decision. With mediation, you can take more control over what final decisions are made. This can ensure that your personal considerations are taken into account and that you get the best possible result for your family.
If you are considering going down the collaborative divorce route in Oklahoma City rather than going through the stress of courtroom proceedings, you should schedule an initial consultation with Cannon & Associates today. Divorce is an important decision that can impact the rest of your life, which is why it is important to discuss your options with an experienced attorney.
Is a Collaborative Divorce Right For Me?
Realistically, collaborative divorce is not for everyone. If you have been a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of your ex-spouse or have suffered hardship as a result of the relationship we would advise you to speak to one of our family law attorneys about what might be the best option for you.
Some questions you should ask yourself when considering whether to go the collaborative route in Oklahoma county include:
- Do my spouse and I want to have an amicable divorce?
- Do I want to keep this divorce and information about my personal life private?
- Am I happy to provide details of my financial resources and other personal information to my spouse and attorneys?
- Would my spouse be comfortable providing their financial, business, and personal information to me and to attorneys?
- Do I want to have more control over the timeframe of my divorce?
- Are both my ex-spouse and I committed to resolving familial and financial issues outside of the courtroom?
- Do we have a successful business together, a difficult financial situation, or a high net worth?
Oklahoma City Collaborative Divorce Lawyer
Collaborative divorce is a preferred method of separation for many couples, as it offers a lot more freedom and encourages healthy mediation with the assistance of family law attorneys. Divorce is often extremely difficult and can cause a lot of stress, money, and time.
If you are going through a divorce, we recommend speaking with an attorney who has experience with collaborative law. At Cannon & Associates, we have a team of attorneys who are highly experienced with collaborative divorces and related practice areas, including mediation. Our priority is ensuring that you and your ex-partner can achieve an amicable divorce without having to sit before a judge.
We have built up a great attorney-client relationship throughout our many years of practice, and we are dedicated to ensuring that your needs are met.Call us today at 405-591-3935 to schedule a free consultation with an Oklahoma City, OK attorney from our firm.
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