3 Reasons to Use Alternative Dispute Resolution in an Illinois Divorce

 Posted on May 28, 2020 in Divorce

There are a wide variety of issues that will need to be settled in a divorce case, and resolving disputes through litigation in court can be costly and time-consuming, while resulting in less than optimal decisions for your family. To address these matters more effectively and avoid contentious disputes, you might want to consider alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which could include collaborative law, mediation, or arbitration.

Why Use Alternative Dispute Resolution?

Some of the best reasons to use alternative dispute resolution instead of traditional litigation include:

1. Efficiency—ADR can provide significant savings of both time and money during the divorce process. Making multiple court appearances and preparing for a divorce trial involves significant expenses, and legal proceedings can last several months, or even years. ADR can help you streamline the process of resolving your disputes and allow you to reach a divorce settlement much more quickly while avoiding unnecessary expenses.

2. Less Intimidating—Appearing in court before a judge can be a daunting experience, and you may be unsure about the procedures followed or the requirements that must be met during litigation. Mediation or other forms of ADR, on the other hand, can be much more casual and straightforward, allowing you and your spouse to speak your mind and work to reach mutually agreeable resolutions to your disputes.

3. Real-Time Feedback—When resolving divorce disputes through mediation or collaborative law, you and your spouse can work through your problems in real time without interference from outside parties. This will give you more control over the outcome of your divorce, and you can work together to reach agreements that will meet your needs both now and in the future. In addition, the collaborative nature of ADR methods can foster a much more civil relationship between the two of you, and this can be especially beneficial if you will be working together as co-parents of your children following your divorce.

Contact a DuPage County Divorce Mediation Attorney

You do not always have to settle divorce or family law cases through the courts. There are numerous other options available to you, and understanding how to use alternative dispute resolution methods may allow you to reach a settlement more quickly while saving money and avoiding contentious disputes. The experienced collaborative law attorneys at Andrew Cores Law Group can explain the options available to you. Call a Wheaton, IL divorce lawyer at 630-871-1002 to arrange a free consultation and learn more about how you can reach a positive outcome to your divorce.

Sources:

https://www.isba.org/public/guide/adr

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2587&ChapterID=51

https://www.idfpr.com/CCICO/PDFs/What%20is%20Alternative%20Dispute%20ResolutionR1.pdf