Are You Likely to Have a Quick Divorce?

The Texas Bar Collaborative Law Course in March 2010 included a valuable presentation titled “Getting Your Case from Zero to 60”. Authors and presenters include Todd Amacher, Jeff Doman, Curtis Harrison, and Vicki James.

Here are some salient points from that presentation that help readers get an idea of what factors affect the speed of a divorce.

Communication
Couples who communicate well have an easier time getting through a quick divorce. The inability to communicate slows down progress and decisions. This is important for both the financial decisions and for the decisions about the children.

Financial Knowledge
When there is an imbalance of knowledge about the finances or business, the divorce process takes longer. The financial neutral needs to spend time with one spouse to bring them up to speed.

Truth
When one or both spouses have a liberal definition to honesty, the process cannot go at a high rate of speed. The collaborative process stands on the principles of transparency and honesty. The collaborative team will adhere to these principles even if one spouse is trying to play Hide the Ball.

Financial Complexity
If the financial property is complex and involves items that are not readily valued, the case can take longer than hoped. Examples include family limited partnerships and offshore trusts.

Professional Team
Another factor in how fast a case can go will be the professionals themselves. In my experience, a team that has worked well together before is more likely to be able to move the case to resolution quicker.