Meriwether & Tharp, LLC
6788799000 Meriwether & Tharp, LLC 1545 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 300 Varied
If you have divorce questions

Is ADR Better Than Court?

What is ADR?

The term Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is used to describe any means used by the parties in a court case to reach an agreement, rather than litigating the matter in court. ADR may include, but is not limited to, Mediation, Arbitration, Settlement Conference, or Late Case Evaluation. The use of ADR is especially helpful in family law matters since the parties are able to negotiate the factors which are most important to them and come to a mutually agreed upon resolution, rather than battle every aspect of the case in court.

You Determine the Outcome

There are several reasons why the resolution focused ADR approach is more favorable than the hostile nature of litigation, especially in a family law matter. One advantage of ADR is when the parties negotiate an agreement, they are able to stipulate terms which are agreeable to them, rather than allowing the judge to decide the outcome.

Collaborative Not Adversarial

Second, the adversarial nature of litigation is likely to have a negative impact on the relationship of the parties moving forward. ADR allows the parties to work together, in a collaborative nature, toward an acceptable agreement for both parties. Future encounters can be more amicable when the parties are not required to hash out their dirty laundry as testimony in open court. The approach parties use to resolve their case will not only influence their future relations, but will also influence any children involved.

Cost


Coming to an agreement on fair terms saves the parties a substantial amount of time and money. Since attorneys bill for their time, you can save a considerable amount of money by settling the case. Preparing for a hearing and appearing to court will take your attorney and their staff a sizable amount of time and cost you a sizable sum of money. Meriwether & Tharp encourages our clients to be resolution focused because a quick and cost-efficient case is best for everyone.

Written by: Rebekah Ann James

Categories:

Divorce Process
Back to Blog