Ending an unfulfilling marriage can be a freeing feeling, but it can also be a stressful experience. After all, it is not easy untangling two financially and emotionally intertwined lives. A couple of options exist for tackling the divorce process in Texas, including litigation and collaborative divorce.
Litigation essentially involves two spouses who battle out in court how they will split their assets and tackle other divorce issues. In this situation, a judge makes the final decisions for the couple regarding spousal support, child custody and their finances, for example. The litigation option is unavoidable for two spouses who do not trust each other and need a judge to basically call the shots for them.
Meanwhile, collaborative divorce is an alternative to traditional litigation where both spouses have their own attorneys along with several professionals who guide them through the divorce process. The team of professionals may include therapists, mental health experts and financial experts, for example. Therapists, in particular, may help with addressing communication problems between spouses and offer guidance on how to assist the children in navigating the divorce effectively.
If the chance exists that a spouse is hiding funds or accounts, then going the litigation route is likely necessary to ensure a fair division of assets. Litigation may also be necessary if one spouse does not trust the other one with the children but the other one wants custody of the children, too. If these concerns do not exist, then collaborative divorce may be the better option. A Texas attorney can help to protect one’s rights and best interests when going through either litigation or collaborative divorce.
