Washington DC Divorce Lawyer

Whether you have decided to end your marriage, your spouse is the one who wants a divorce, or you both agree to get divorced, a lawyer may be able to advocate for your personal and financial interests.

If you have children, a Washington DC divorce lawyer will also work with you as you consider what is best for your kids. Speaking with a distinguished family attorney can give you the peace of mind you need to proceed with your case.

Basics of Divorce Law

There are several issues that frequently arise due to a divorce, including:

There are several means of resolving the issues listed above. Generally, divorcing parties’ choices are mediation, negotiation, and litigation.

Role of Mediation

Couples mediate when both spouses wish to amicably resolve their divorce without hostility. During mediation, a trained mediator helps the couple work out financial and custody agreements beneficial to both parties and any children.

Mediation works best when relations between spouses are generally peaceful, but even parties who have strong feelings about the marriage, divorce, or the rights of the parties can be successful in mediating a comprehensive agreement. Even if you choose to mediate, you should still consult with a Washington DC divorce attorney to ensure you know your rights and that your legal interests are safeguarded before signing any agreement you may reach in mediation.

Collaborative Divorces

Like mediation, a collaborative divorce is a non-adversarial alternative to litigation. While represented by their own attorneys, the couple will engage in a series of meetings to reach a settlement agreement. These meetings can include other professional, such as financial analysts or divorce coaches. This option can be easier, more efficient, and less costly, overall, than litigation.

Of course, litigation is often necessary to resolve disputes that the spouses and their attorneys cannot resolve on their own. Sometimes a couple will first attempt mediation or collaborative divorce, but negotiations tend to break down and result in litigation.

Considering Divorce

Maybe you have decided that life is too short to stay in a bad or unhappy marriage. While a divorce is inevitably difficult, there are many ways in which it can result in a better life. Whether through mediation, negotiation, or litigation, a marriage dissolution lawyer in Washington DC who understands the stress you are under can handle your case with sensitivity and professionalism.

Some reasons a divorce may be preferable to remaining in an unhappy or bad marriage include:

Children

If a child’s parents are unhappy together, that child is likely suffering as well. After a certain age, kids pick up on and absorb a hostile or negative environment. Kids are also impressionable, and if the parents – who should be role models – are hostile or neglectful toward one another, it follows that the kids can emulate these negative behaviors or engage in self-destructive behaviors.

More Energy

Being in the wrong relationship is exhausting at the very least and can even be dangerous. After a divorce, parties may realize how much energy they spent worrying about their relationship. Once spouses have parted ways, they can focus on the parts of their own life or their children’s lives that they may have neglected.

New Partner

Once someone has have moved on from their possibly painful experience, they will have the freedom to find a positive relationship. In fact, in 2012, approximately 20% of men and 15 percent of women in Washington DC who had ever been married, had been married more than once.

Hire an Experienced DC Divorce Attorney Today

Any family law issue, and especially divorce, is bound to be stressful. It is a difficult decision to end a marriage you thought would last forever. A Washington DC divorce lawyer can lighten your burden through what is almost always a difficult time. While you focus on yourself and your children, a skillful divorce attorney in DC will fight for you and for an outcome that protects your interests, your future, and your kids.