Strategic Divorce

Strategic Divorce

Yes, a strategic divorce is within your grasp. Watch this video and call our office for a consultation. Let us empower you with options and confidence.

Video Transcription

Speaker: Stephanie Brinkley

Hi, everyone. It's Stephanie Brinkley at Brinkley Law Firm. Today, I'm going to talk to you about the most common questions our divorce clients ask. No one gets married and thinks, "I'll just stay in this relationship until the next one comes along." But let's face facts. Divorce in the United States is at 50%. Our lives are stressful, unpredictable, and temptation is everywhere. So it's not unusual that during the relationship, someone may want to get emotional or legal advice about their marriage. But along with marriage, you've acquired assets, debts, and most likely children. So analyzing your future when your present is very unsettling is emotionally crippling.

The first question we always receive is how long will it take? Well, I'm going to give you a lawyer answer. It depends. There are so many variables that go into a divorce action. And while we strive to handle your matter efficiently, there are things that are out of our control. For example, how contentious is your relationship with your spouse? Are they naturally combative? And if they are, they'll likely hire an attorney that's equally combative and that can cause complications and delays in the progress of your divorce action.

Once you come in for a consultation and we have a better idea of the facts of your case, the contested issues, the nature of your spouse, we can better evaluate the needs of your case and the timeline. But remember, you have a lot more control over the situation than you think. You have intel that we don't. You know what buttons to push for your spouse. You know what makes them tick. What are their strengths. What are their weaknesses. With the right attorney, we can use this information to get the most efficient outcome for your divorce.

The next question we receive is how much is it going to cost? Well, the same variables that impact the timeline of your divorce can also impact the cost of your divorce. But there are some things within your control that you can use to your advantage. For example, organize your own documents. Don't drop off a box of documents for your attorney to muddle through and get organized. You do not pay your attorney hundreds of dollars an hour to be your secretary. Number two, do not use your attorney as a counselor. We are trained in logic and reason. We are not trained to deal with the emotional aspects of divorce. If you need a referral, no problem. We have professionals that we consult with and we can point you in the right direction. Additionally, send nice succinct emails to your attorney with all of your questions. We welcome somewhat lengthy emails with a list of questions that we can respond to efficiently. But sending multiple emails a day with questions will cause you to burn through your retainer, and that is not efficient way to use your funds.

The final question that we're asked is are we going to win? Win what? It's a divorce. Nobody wins in a divorce. However, our goal is to mitigate damages. We want to mitigate damages to your finances, to your professional and personal reputation, and most importantly, to your children. They are the most important asset you have in this marriage. And we want to preserve their emotional well-being as well as your own.

Our goal is to help our clients make good short-term and long-term decisions. So if you're looking for a scorched earth attorney, we'll gladly give you a referral. However, we like a more of a strategic approach. We want you to feel comfortable, to feel confident, and have more control over your divorce action so that you feel better throughout the process. It's going to be painful, but we're going to get you to the other side.

One of the best compliments I received from a client is she said, "Stephanie takes the time to review each matter that presents and prioritizes issues that she knows have a meaningful impact on my children." I have always maintained children as the highest priority in a divorce action and we'll do the same for you. If you'd like to talk to us about your options and moving forward in a possible divorce action, please call us or go to our website and request a consultation. It will be confidential, of course. And we'll get you in as soon as possible so that we can talk about your options, help you to feel a little more empowered about where you are in your relationship, and have a strategy to move forward.