Facing the end of a marriage is challenging, but it's important to understand your options so you can complete the process with a minimum of stress, hassle, and emotional upheaval. To help you identify the best solution for your situation, consider the main types of divorce under Connecticut family law.

Divorce Options in Connecticut

Divorce Pro Se

A divorce pro se is an uncontested divorce a couple conducts without the assistance of family law professionals. The couple takes care of all the paperwork and legal filings themselves. This option works best for couples who have no major assets or children and are able to maintain an amicable relationship throughout the divorce process.

Divorce Mediation

In divorce mediation, the couple hires a neutral third-party mediator to facilitate communication and guide each party toward mutually agreeable resolutions. The mediator helps the couple effectively and peaceably determine contested issues like asset division, child custody and support, alimony, and other family law matters central to a divorce. Mediation is ideally suited to couples who are open to working together, communicating openly, and negotiating. This process gives each spouse a say in how issues are resolved.

Collaborative Divorce

In collaborative divorce, a couple decides on the details of a split with the help of their respective attorneys. The attorney serves as a legal advocate, mediator, and negotiator, and they work on behalf of their client to get the desired results. As with mediation, the decision-making power in a collaborative divorce resides with the couple, not with the courts, and a fair amount of openness and willingness to work together are necessary.

Litigated Divorce

In a litigated divorce, the courts get involved to resolve the contested matters the couple cannot agree upon. This is an option for spouses who aren’t on speaking terms, are unable to communicate, or where there are allegations of violence or abuse. Each spouse secures the services of an attorney, and the attorneys fight for their clients' goals. Litigated divorces end with either a settlement reached through attorney negotiations or, if negotiations fail, through a judgment rendered by a family law judge.

Family law attorney Gilbert P. Kaback, Attorney at Law will help you find the path to divorce that is best suited to your circumstances and goals. Based in Colchester, CT, he’s served clients for over two decades. He also offers representation in civil litigation, bankruptcy law, and personal injury cases. Call (860) 537-0874 or visit his website to schedule a consultation today.