Arriving at the decision to divorce is different for everyone. For some couples, there is long standing conflict. For others, a negative situation or incident may have driven a wedge into their relationship. But for many other couples, they have simply grown apart and have realized they want to live separately. They want to cooperatively co-parent their children. They want to divide assets and debts fairly by agreeing with one another. They want their divorce to be respectful and amicable. Couples like this have options. And one option they need to know about is Friendly Divorce.
What is Friendly Divorce, you ask?
It is a process developed by Maxim Smith, that allows one of the divorcing parties to hire our law firm to finalize the entire divorce. Yes, if you and your spouse have an agreement on all terms of your divorce, then you do not need two attorneys battling in court on your behalf. Nor do you need to fret over filling out court forms if you do not want or cannot afford to use an attorney. There is another, affordable option, for many divorcing couples like you, which is using one law firm to finalize your uncontested – friendly – divorce.
Are you a Good Fit for Friendly Divorce?
Before even considering Friendly Divorce, it is important for you to make sure your specific situation is right for this process. Find out if you are a good fit HERE . If Friendly Divorce is right for your situation, you will provide Maxim Smith all relevant information so we can draft the documents necessary to file your Divorce Decree. If you have children, you will receive a questionnaire about your financial and child-related situation and also convey your agreement on these important areas. If you do not have children, using Friendly Divorce will mean completing a shorter questionnaire related to your financial situation and your agreement with one another.
So What’s Next?
Upon receipt of your questionnaire and other supporting documents, Maxim Smith will draft your divorce documents quickly and efficiently. For those of you with children, you are required to attend one court hearing. For those of you without children, a hearing is not necessary. The fee you pay will be an affordable fixed fee, depending on the complexity of your case. For couples who earn similar incomes, with few assets and debts, and no children, the fee could be as low as $2,300, which includes the court filing fee. For those of you with children and more complex assets or support issues, the fee starts at $4,300. Compare this to regular divorce which, in Minnesota, can cost $11,000 – $36,000; maybe more.
An Option Worth Considering
Friendly Divorce is an option for couples who don’t want to fight it out in court, only to have someone in a black robe make decisions about your family. If you have an agreement with your spouse on all issues in your divorce, we simply draft your divorce documents and finalize your divorce for you. If you do not have an agreement with your spouse, you should consult with an attorney at our firm to determine whether you need traditional divorce representation. Learn more about Friendly Divorce >
Allison Maxim is a skilled and ethically-focused attorney with experience in all areas of family law. Allison prides herself on providing sound, effective legal counsel to individuals and families as well as offering mediation and parenting consulting services.