Court costs, attorney fees, accounting fees, property evaluations, added stress, emotional difficulty for your children… the list goes on and on. There’s no question about it, family law disputes (including divorce, child custody, child support, etc.) are expensive and demoralizing. To limit these costs, you will want to reach a settlement as soon as practicable.
Now don’t get me wrong, I do not advocate taking a “raw deal.” You should not just give up all your property, child custody, to your ex for the sake of reaching an easy, cheap resolution. You need to make sure any deal is fair to you. What I am saying is that your goal in any family law dispute should be to reach a settlement that that is fair to all parties (especially children) involved.
I realize a settlement is easier said than done. You may have unrealistic expectations of what the outcome should be. You have an emotional attachment to the situation, and sometimes you just don’t think your ex deserves anything.
You need to prioritize what you want in a settlement, try to view your case from an outsider’s perspective, figure what you are willing to give up, know the law, and know what the court is likely to rule in your case should you fail to reach an agreement. If you hire a lawyer (and it is advisable to do so in contested situations), make sure to hire one with a reputation for achieving fair settlements for his or her clients. Failure to reach an agreement means the court will decide for you. Rulings in family law cases tend to be unpredictable and you will have no say once the court makes its decision. This is tantamount to going to eat at a restaurant and letting your server decide what you want to eat. You might like it, you might not, but it almost certainly won’t be what you would have wanted.
Do you agree or disagree? Have any personal experiences you’d like to share? Your comments are appreciated. Also, please feel free to send a confidential email to FreeForLaw.com from the Contact Us Link above. Your input will influence future discussion topics.
