Tennessee spouses may be faced with making a crucial decision at some point during their divorce trial. They must choose whether to continue working towards a settlement or proceed to a court hearing. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. A divorce trial has numerous consequences, both now and in the future.
The most obvious drawback to a divorce trial is the prohibitive costs. Depending on how complex the trial is, the expense will always range into the thousands of dollars. Moreover, each court hearing is a stressful event as being in front of a judge rightfully scares many people. As long as the case is not resolved, one’s well-being will be impacted by the angst he or she faces daily. Moreover, going to trial will lead to lasting bitterness after the trial. This can permanently ruin the relationship between co-parents who need to cooperate.
There is a reason why very few divorce cases will ever go trial. In fact, less than 5% will result in a hearing. Divorcing couples are almost always better off compromising. However, there are some cases in which a trial is an unavoidable result due to the conduct of one or both spouses. However, each party should first pursue a settlement through good faith negotiations. If they cannot resolve the issues, the divorce can stretch out for years, and spouses cannot move on with their lives.
A divorce attorney could advise his or her clients about the costs involved in a trial. A lawyer may try to help steer their clients towards a settlement agreement to stay out of court. After all, there is a reason why most people try to avoid a trial no matter what. An attorney might conduct the negotiations with the other side on behalf of his or her clients as they seek an agreement.
