A divorce or legal separation doesn’t require a court hearing to decide how to divide up the property, who gets custody of the kids, and how often visitation can happen. In fact, litigating a divorce in court is a last resort and is the least common way to resolve the logistics of a permanent separation.1
Options for alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation and arbitration, can help both partners reach solutions they can live with in a private and less acrimonious way. In some states ADR is required before you can get a hearing in family court.
