The traditional litigated divorce is unaffordable for many families today. Even for those who have the resouces to pay tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, it can be a waste of family resources.
Partner Karen Hindson states, "The cost of your representation is an important issue in your divorce case. Money that you and your spouse spend on attorneys fees for your divorce is forever gone. It will not be available for your support, your children's college education, or your retirement."
Hindson & Melton LLC partners with its clients to identify strategies to achieve savings in the cost of completing the divorce. Available strategies include collaborative law approaches, mediation, and negotiating uncontested settlements with both parties represented by like-minded counsel. The result can be an enormous cost savings for the clients.
The key to savings is limiting the litigation and minimizing the adversarial aspects of the case. In most divorce cases, the parties have mutual interests - such as the welfare of their children and safeguarding the financial future of both parties. Hindson suggests that "In most cases, experienced counsel can predict a relatively narrow range of outcomes that are likely as a result of litigating the divorce case. Savvy clients can take this information and 'cut to the chase', agreeing to resolve their case somewhere within this range - even if they aren't thrilled at the financial terms. The result can be an outcome that is acceptable to both parties, achieved without the 'scorched earth' and high fees common to heavily litigated divorces. This approach sets the stage for cooperative parenting and the resolution of future challenges by agreement of the parties. The benefits to the family are enormous."
"If a divorce is inevitable, it is enormously satisfying to assist a family in moving through the process with the least damage possible - both emotional and financial." Hindson cautions that this approach does require some degree of willingness of both parties to engage in the process. For those clients determined to manipulate or control the outcome, it can be a challenge to resolve the case at a reasonable cost. Hindson reports that more and more clients are contacting Hindson & Melton for assistance in processing their case in this cost-effective manner.
Ideally, both parties will have legal representation by counsel who embrace this philosophy. Hindson & Melton LLC can provide refererrals to like-minded attorneys who can represent the other spouse.
Hindson & Melton LLC is a leading family law and estate planning firm in Dunwoody Sandy Springs. Karen Hindson and Joy Melton have a combined 50+ years of experience in family law and estate planning. They are available to speak to civic or religious groups on legal topics including estate planning, wills and trusts, family law, and legal issues concerning older adults."
