Before entering any divorce case in Texas, you should know about
collaborative law: a process in which both parties agree to engage in honest
and fair communication in order to avoid going to trial for their divorce.
Of course, in the more hostile divorce cases this is a lot easier said
than done. It's sometimes difficult to put your feelings aside in order to
reach an agreement that is truly fair – we've all heard of divorce cases in
which one spouse or the other is attempting to acquire as much monetary gain as
possible out of spite. If your case is antagonistic in nature, it's better to
hire a sound Texas divorce lawyer, like Marshall
Davis Brown, Jr.
If you can put your feelings aside, though, and agree to think of the
interests of both parties and any involved children, it cuts out a lot of
middle men and saves a lot of time. You'll be able to save a lot on legal fees
and avoid a lot of court dates. You can still get lawyers to make sure that
settlements are fair, such as the division of property, but it's a much more
cooperative and communicative process than doing the entire thing through
trials.
The benefits of taking advantage of collaborative law are manifold – you
save time and money, and you can work out any emotional kinks to make sharing
custody of children less painful. Plus, if both parties are considering the
interests of the other, as well as their own, one person is less likely to take
advantage of the divorce and end up with more property and money than is
necessary or fair.
It's definitely an option to consider if you feel it's one you can handle
– but if there is any doubt, hiring a lawyer and taking the case to court is by
all means necessary. Remember, lawyers care about their clients and want things
to work out the best for them, despite any stereotypes about the profession.