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June 1, 2021Commercial Awareness Update – W/C 31st May 2021
June 2, 2021Any adults in a serious and committed relationship are bound to disagree at some point and time. At times these disagreements are minor, while others are huge and end up causing separations.
The road to separation and resolution varies from one couple to another, just as the relationships do. Some couples feel that a family law court is the best option for them, while others comprise and try to reach agreements and settlements outside one.
There are several affordable ways in which most people resolve their family law issues. They include:
- Kitchen table agreement
This is undoubtedly the simplest and most affordable way in which couples resolve their family issues. In this method, a couple will sit down together and develop their own separation agreement without the need to go to court or even legal practitioners.
In most cases, couples find forms on the internet that act as templates when crafting this agreement. However, even though this method doesn’t cost the disputing couples anything, it is a risky way to reach a formal settlement.
This is because most of these internet templates are often flawed, meaning that you could end up signing to pay more or give up rights to properties you didn’t plan on. For this reason, it’s advisable for the disputing couples to consult their respective lawyers before signing such an agreement.
Their lawyers are likely to provide legal advice where possible and explain some of the terms more clearly. This will help you avoid making a very costly mistake by signing a one-sided agreement.
- Mediation
In this process, the disputing couples will sit down with a trained mediator who is well trained and experienced in dealing with various family law issues. In most cases, the mediators are often family lawyers.
However, if the disputing parties do not feel confident in the family lawyer’s judgment, they can always opt for another licensed law practitioner adequately trained in mediation. Despite the mediator’s knowledge and expertise, their job is not to provide either party with legal advice.
Instead, the mediator’s main job is to guide the couple in their discussions that will lead them to an amicable solution that they are both satisfied with. In mediation, the disputing persons can bring their lawyers, but it’s not a common occurrence.
However, if there are complex issues to be discussed in the mediation, such as property or custody matters, either parties’ lawyers can be present. Most people will likely retain a lawyer during a mediation process to get help when they’re preparing a sworn financial statement.
In most cases, mediation proceedings are often closed, meaning that any offers or discussions made remain confidential. If an agreement is reached between the two parties, the mediator will create a report containing all the terms and conditions of the agreement.
Later on, both parties are expected to present a copy of the agreement to their lawyers for advice before turning it into a formal Separation Agreement.
If you’re looking for a well-trained and experienced lawyer to assist you during the mediation process, the professionals at https://btlfamilylaw.com/ are a great choice. They will provide you with all the necessary advice you need during the process while protecting your interests.
- Arbitration
This method is directly linked to mediation. In a mediation process, the disputing couple can either reach a resolution by themselves or not. If the two parties fail to reach a resolution or settlement, the mediator is bound to take the role of an arbitrator.
By being an arbitrator, their main task changes from guiding the disputing couple to reach a resolution. Now, the arbitrator has the authority to decide on a binding resolution between the two people. This resolution should be fair and acceptable to both parties.
To achieve this, the arbitrator follows the law and accommodates all the grievances presented by each party. The best thing about this method is that it reaches resolution and settlement faster for the couple than court proceedings.
- Negotiation
In a negotiation process, the disputing couples usually retain their lawyers for legal advice when negotiating an agreement. A negotiation process can either happen in writing or a four-way meeting.
In a four-way meeting, the couple and their respective lawyers will sit down and negotiate a resolution that favors both parties. The best thing about a negotiation process is that you can be creative with the resolution options to accommodate your family’s problems.
Conclusion
If both of you feel that solving your law issues through a courtroom endangers your family’s well being, the above options are great alternatives. Through these methods, both of you will get to save money while also safeguarding your families’ images.