Once you and your spouse have made the decision to file for divorce, you should take a moment to speak with an attorney at the Law Office of Michael R. Young about alternative dispute resolution (ADR). If you and your spouse are able to put aside your differences and harsh feelings, there are many benefits to resolving your divorce through ADR as opposed to litigation. These advantages include:

• ADR saves time.
• Because ADR saves time, it also saves money.
• ADR gives you and your spouse more control over how your divorce is resolved. In some forms of ADR, like mediation, the parties work together to reach settlements and arrangements, rather than having the courts decide for them.
• ADR fosters communication. In order for ADR to be successful it is often necessary for the parties to communicate their needs, wants, and concerns and openly discuss what they wish to achieve in order to resolve their divorce in a way that meets everyone’s satisfaction.
• Satisfaction is more likely with ADR than with litigation. When a case is litigated in court, there is usually a winner and a loser. The purpose of ADR is to reach a settlement that everyone is happy with and that suits everyone’s needs.
• ADR preserves relationships. During litigation, the parities are more likely to work against each other than work together. Making accusations, blaming one another for the dissolution of the marriage, name-calling, and saying hurtful things can all make litigation a stressful and emotionally-taxing experience. ADR fosters communication and promotes the parties working together in order to resolve their divorce.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of alternative dispute resolution, please don’t hesitate to contact our office today to speak with an experienced Riverside divorce lawyer about your options!