So what are your options when it comes to divorce?
There are really five main paths you can take, depending on your unique situation: do it yourself, adversarial, collaborative, mediated and Wevorce.
Think back to the major milestones in your life. How much preparation went into your wedding day, the purchase of your first home or the birth of your child? Did you go with the first minister, realtor or midwife you found, or did you spent several months pouring through every wedding magazine, real estate guide and baby book you could get your hands on?
If you’re like most people, you carefully plan your major life events. Why should your divorce be any different? Sure, emotions are running high, and a lot of couples’ initial inclination is to get it over with as fast as possible. But taking the time to explore your options and plan a thoughtful divorce will give you and your family the long-term stability you need, instead of a quick fix that could come back to haunt you a few years down the road.
The Great state of Texas passed a law saying that courts have to accept fill in yourself forms – as long as you use the state approved forms. Here in Collin County, just go to the law library down on the bottom floor of the courthouse and they will get you a set. They are also online at: http://www.collincountytx.gov/law_library/Pages/online_forms.aspx
You need a lawyer, but if you decide to, or feel you have to do it yourself, be careful! These can be disastrous -- I have had to clean up the train wreck afterwards!
If you watched your own parents duke it out in the ’70s or ’80s, this is probably the first type of divorce that pops into your mind. This type of divorce is the most expensive way to end a marriage.
In a collaborative divorce, each spouse still has an attorney to guide them through the legal realities of divorce. With so many professionals involved, this approach can lead to some high costs.
The mediated divorce is a step up from a do-it-yourself (DIY) divorce and can be a cost-effective method for couples that agree on the major aspects of their divorce.
In the Wevorce model, divorcing couples pay an upfront, flat fee and come to the table together, under the guidance of one attorney-mediator, known as a Wevorce Lead Architect.
To Get Started, both spouses must attend an initial free consultation to see if Wevorce is a fit. Call our office to schedule a session
Call us if you need us! We are here to help with your legal needs!
By Jac Schuster, an Estate Planning and Probate attorney and Wevorce associate in McKinney. Learn more at jacschuster.com.