Divorce Settlement Conferences and Why They Matter

Most people have an image in their minds of a contentious divorce trial when they decide to end their marriage. They may think that they will have to get on the stand and detail everything that went wrong in your marriage, or all the reasons why you think you should have primary custody of your children, or all the money and property in your possession. The idea might seem like a nightmare.

Fortunately, there are other options for resolving your divorce and getting what you want without subjecting yourself to a trial. A divorce settlement conference is a great option, and your divorce lawyer can help guide you through the process so you can get the outcome you want.

What is a Divorce Settlement Conference?

A divorce settlement conference is a meeting that you and your spouse have with your attorneys to try to negotiate a resolution. You may be able to negotiate the division of your assets and debts, your child custody plan, child support, and alimony. The goal is to help you arrive at a resolution without going to trial.

In some cases, a divorce settlement conference will take place in a courtroom with a supervisor, which could include a judge. However, if you and your spouse are able to work together, you can have an unsupervised conference. Though don’t think that means that only you and your spouse are in the room! You will still have your divorce attorney present to mediate the proceedings.

Most divorce settlement conferences take only a few hours. However, if you have an especially complex case or things are so contentious with your ex that you can’t reach a resolution, the conference may take a few days.

Benefits of the Divorce Settlement Conference

There are many benefits to having a divorce settlement conference to resolve your divorce.

To start, you will save yourself considerable time and money. Your divorce will resolve much more quickly, and you will save a lot of money. If you have to go to trial, your divorce proceedings can drag on for months (or years if you have a complex case), and you will end up spending thousands of dollars. Opting for a divorce settlement conference instead can resolve your issues in as little as a day.

Another great benefit of divorce settlement conferences is that they can help you work through complicated issues. The structure and outside perspective can make it easier for you to work together with your spouse to reach a consensus. If you were to try to negotiate these issues on your own, there is a high likelihood that you would end up arguing and getting into personal issues. Your divorce lawyers help keep you on track with their objective perspective.

Finally, you have nothing to lose with a divorce settlement conference. Nothing you say during the conference can be used against you if the case has to go to trial. You can work out your issues during the conference and reap all the benefits it offers, or you can take your case to court anyway knowing that you gave it your all and didn’t lose anything in the process.

Talk to your divorce attorney around Arizona about setting up a divorce settlement conference and trying to work through your issues so you can avoid going to court. You’ll find that the entire divorce process ends up being much less contentious, and you’ll save a lot of money in legal costs. Plus, you’ll come out the other side of your divorce less emotionally drained, having avoided the trauma of a long and contentious court trial.

If you are thinking of separating or divorcing, call My AZ Lawyers to talk to one of our divorce lawyers today. We’ll help you come up with the best strategy to resolve your divorce quickly and fairly, getting you the best settlement you can. We’ll help you fight for child custody and support, as well as the best division of assets you can get. We serve clients in he Mesa, Tucson, Glendale, and Phoenix areas. Call us today to talk to a family law lawyer about the particulars of your case and to start fighting for what you want.

My AZ Lawyers

Mesa Location:
1731 West Baseline Rd., Suite #100
Mesa, AZ 85202
Office: (480) 448-9800

Glendale Location:
20325 N 51st Avenue Suite #134, Building 5
Glendale, AZ 85308
Office: (602) 509-0955

Tucson Location:
2 East Congress St., Suite #900-6A
Tucson, AZ 85701
Office: (520) 441-1450

Avondale Location:
12725 W. Indian School Rd., Ste E, #101
Avondale, AZ 85392