Common Questions

Will I Get a Better Settlement If I Go To Court?

Divorcing individuals often ask, “Won’t I get the entire house if I go to court and tell the judge what my husband did?” or “Wouldn't the judge see that I shouldn't have to pay that much child support to my ex-wife?”

Men and women who ask these questions have never appeared in divorce court. If they had, they would know that one rarely has the opportunity to tell their story in court. If the opportunity to speak is allowed, the information one thinks is essential is often not allowed into evidence.

The final court decision will most likely hinge on a technical aspect that seem absurd to someone not versed in “the law.” The goals of the judge often differ radically from yours.

The reality of a divorce court trial is that most litigants walk out of the courtroom feeling as if they have just been run over by a truck. The winner often finds his or her enthusiasm dampened by the warning they hear from their lawyer to prepare for the next legal round, when their soon-to-be-ex-spouse will appeals the judge’s decision.

An appeal means another trial, more money, and, of course, the emotional trauma that seems to have no end. Mediation offers a common-sense, less expensive and less traumatic way to reach your final divorce agreement.