El Dorado County Divorce Attorney

Your Divorce Options

There are several different ways to categorize the many paths to divorce. Consider four of the main options available to you so you can better decide what can best suit your situation.

1. DIY Uncontested Divorce

If you and your partner already have an agreement in place and you trust your partner to protect your best interests and act fairly, an uncontested divorce may work best for you. Generally speaking, this is the fastest and cheapest type of divorce available in El Dorado County, California. Our lawyer provides you with the necessary paperwork and answers questions you may have along the way.

2. Mediation

If you find you do not fully understand the California divorce process, you worry your partner may not act fairly or you have some issues to negotiate, mediation is the next-best amicable choice. In this instance, you hire our McCunn Law divorce attorney to act as a neutral party. He then helps you to reach decisions for each important topic that benefits both parties and the children. Note that you can still file an uncontested divorce after mediation by finalizing your agreement in writing and filing it with the appropriate courts.

3. Collaborative Divorce

This is similar to mediation but involves more people. Note that the more professionals you bring into the equation, the more complex matters can become and the more likely the process is to drag on, compared to mediation. Couples tend to hire an attorney each, a mediator, a financial professional and a coach. All of these professionals work with the couple to ensure they reach a fair final agreement.

4. Contested Divorce

Also known as the traditional approach or litigation, this is the most expensive approach to an El Dorado County divorce and it can take years to resolve. In this type of divorce, each party may or may not retain independent counsel. Both parties must present their cases before the court. The court then makes the final decisions regarding the divorce and all attached issues, such as spousal support, property division and child custody.

The Effect of Complexities

The more complex your California divorce case, the more likely you are to need more professionals involved in the negotiation process. This does not always mean contested divorce. It can mean trying the collaborative process first. Remember that you can add almost any professional to the group process that you both believe can offer fair advice. Here are possible El Dorado Country complexities to be mindful of:

• Contributions of separate property to the marriage, such as when a dependent spouse worked to put the current breadwinner through school
• Significant differences between the income and/or earning potential of each party
• Domestic violence, especially involving sex offenses and/or the children
• Joint ownership of assets, such as a home or business
• Presence of minor or dependent children
• Multiple streams of income