Matrium Law Group is a divorce & family law firm. If you need an experienced Montana attorney to help with your dissolution of marriage, divorce, common law marriage, legal separation, guardianship, adoption, spousal support, alimony, contempt of court, parenting plan, or custody issues, give Matrium Law Group a call at (406) 552-7814, send a text to (406) 552-7814, or send an email to lili@matriumlaw.com for a free initial assessment of your case.
Matrium Law Group accepts divorce & family law cases statewide, including in Missoula County (Missoula), Ravalli County (Hamilton), Flathead County (Kalispell), Gallatin County (Bozeman), Sanders County (Thompson Falls), Silver Bow County (Butte) and Yellowstone County (Billings).
EXPERIENCEd. ProfeSsional.
Lili Panarella, Matrium Law Group’s owner & attorney at law
Traditional divorce is messy and emotional. And, it’s no secret that going through a traditional divorce can be very time consuming and expensive.
Fortunately, there is another option. Instead of traditional divorce, collaborative divorce is a method for ending your marriage faster, and at a much more reasonable price. And, with collaborative divorce, you can avoid going to court.
I have been an attorney for 25 years. I have seen many people spend a lot of time, energy, and money litigating their divorces. I am convinced that collaborative divorce is a quicker, more civilized, and more affordable option.
Why do I recommend collaborative divorce?
It’s faster. Traditional divorces average about 18 months from start to finish, with some taking as long as 10 years or more.
Collaborative divorce typically takes less than 12 months. Most people want to get it over with, so they can move on with their lives. In general, collaborative divorces are concluded more quickly than traditional ones because you do not have to wait to get on the court’s docket. Instead, you get to choose times that work for your schedule, which makes it easier to reach a settlement faster.
It’s cheaper. Traditional divorce involves court filings, motions, and hearings, which add up quickly and can result in a substantial legal bill. Taking your divorce to court is very expensive. It is not uncommon for a traditional divorce to cost $100,000 or more.
One of the cost-saving benefits of collaborative divorce is avoiding court appearances and associated expenses. A primary motivation in seeking a collaborative divorce is the amount of money both parties stand to save. By negotiating every major issue of the divorce, the couple does not go through a trial. By using the collaborative process, the cost of a divorce can be greatly reduced.
It’s less stressful. Most people want to avoid going to court. In a traditional divorce, you have to rely on a judge to settle disputes. In traditional divorce, if a hearing, trial, deposition or mediation is set for a specific date and time, you must attend. Many courts are backed up for months, and it is difficult to get in front of a judge quickly. In a traditional divorce, you may have to wait 3 to 6 months before you can get in for a hearing with your judge.
In a collaborative divorce, you do not need to go to court. In collaborative divorce, your divorce happens on your schedule and the meetings are scheduled for dates and times that work best for you. In collaborative divorce, your divorce happens outside of the courtroom.
It’s private. In a traditional divorce, the court process becomes a matter of public record, and both hearings and trials are conducted in open court. Anyone can see who you work for, how much your salary is, what benefits you receive, how much your taxes are, what you spend your money on, who your creditors are, and how much and what kind of debt you have. In addition, anyone will be able to see what your assets are, like retirement plans, bank accounts, investment accounts, real property, businesses, collectibles, etc.
Collaborative divorce enables you to keep your personal and financial information private.
I strongly believe that collaborative divorce is an excellent alternative to traditional divorce. In my experience, collaborative divorce is more affordable, faster, and less stressful than traditional divorce.
For a free initial assessment of your case, give me a call at (406) 552-7814, send a text to (406) 552-7814, or send an email to lili@matriumlaw.com.
Best regards,
Lili Panarella, Owner & Attorney at Law, Matrium Law Group PLLC