Streamline Divorce™ and Streamline Mediation™: Simpler, Out-of-Court Options

Many couples are searching for creative ways to reduce the costs of their divorce cases.  The notion of a "cheap online divorce" has become increasingly popular, as evidenced by its popularity as an Internet search term. Couples are becoming comfortable with the notion that they are capable of handling their own divorce settlements.  The popularity of the idea of "friendly" or "peaceful" divorce is another testament to this trend.  Especially in light of current economic conditions, it only makes sense.  Negotiated divorce settlements save money and, most importantly of all, spare couples and their children from suffering through the distress of a litigated court battle.  

I give whole-hearted support to the idea that, if divorce is inevitable, then a thoughtful negotiated settlement is almost always the better approach.  We are discovering, however, that many couples with do-it- yourself (or " DIY") divorces are placing themselves in jeopardy with "one size fits all" online agreements that might lead to real problems after the divorce is final.   Some online divorce documents simply are not sufficient under Michigan law.  I am becoming increasingly concerned about individuals who attempt a DIY divorce but  do not have the information or expertise to properly transfer interests in real property, pensions and retirement accounts once they believe their divorce is "final."   Within a few years, there is likely to be a cascade of complicated  cases where "DIY" divorcing couples come back to court to untangle problems they thought they had resolved years earlier.   I fear many couples will learn only after it's too late that they have been penny-wise and pound foolish, risking the loss of valuable interests in a former marital home, pension or retirement account.  The stakes in terms of child custody and parenting time issues, of course, are even higher.

An affordable and amicable divorce settlement can go hand-in-hand with quality legal advice.   It simply makes good sense to do the job right the first time.  There has been a growing need for an orderly and affordable way for couples to work out a mutually acceptable divorce settlement.  In response to this growing need, we have introduced two unique, simplified legal processes, called Streamline Divorce^TM and Streamline Mediation^TM.

Who is a good candidate for the Streamline Divorce^TM process?

• Individuals who believe  they have  reached a complete agreement with their spouse  regarding their property (and, if applicable, child custody, support and parenting time arrangements) and simply need an attorney  to "write it up"
• Individuals who believe they have a general agreement with their spouse  regarding their property (and, if applicable, child custody, support and parenting time arrangements)  but who feel they need professional assistance  in making sure they have addressed  the necessary issues and/or exploring available options
• Individuals who accept that a divorce is their next step and who believe they can work through the divorce process amicably with their spouse using  a framework which guides them step-by-step through the key decisions
• Individuals with relatively standard property and support issues who, along with their spouse, are committed to an out-of-court resolution of their divorce
• Whenever individuals are considering a "Do It Yourself" or "DIY" divorce kit or an online or internet divorce

How does Streamline Divorce^TM work?

Streamline Divorce^TM is a simplified, out-of-court divorce settlement system that:

• Helps clients obtain the legal services they need on a step-by-step basis
• Allows clients and their spouses to work through their own settlement agreement at their own speed
• Permits parties who believe they can reach an agreement amicably to work through their issues with a knowledgeable attorney available to assist and advise the client along the way
• Allows parties who wish to have a "Do It Yourself" ("DIY") Divorce to have professional assistance in drafting  their agreement
• Helps keep attorney fees low
• by eliminating costly adversarial court proceedings, and
• by using  a simplified fee structure which permits payment of retainer fees and costs in up to three incremental stages
• Allows client the opportunity to limit legal services to those services  they want and need

What is Streamline Mediation^TM ?

Streamline Mediation^TM is a simplified, out-of-court divorce settlement process that:

• Helps spouses work through their unresolved issues with an experienced, neutral mediator
• Helps spouses address their key issues in an orderly, organized manner
• Form-based mediation format helps move the process along more quickly and with less professional expense, allowing spouses to complete certain information on their own, and at their own pace, outside of mediation sessions
• Mediator acts as a neutral in the problem-solving process, as opposed to serving as the attorney for either spouse

Whether you have a relatively simple family legal matter or a situation that is complex or novel, it is our goal to provide excellence in legal services to all of our clients.  We are pleased to introduce our new Streamline Divorce^TM and Mediation processes to the list of traditional and out-of-court options that our firm already offers.