Getting Started
Which Divorce Process is Best for You?
FAQ
WHAT IS PROVORCE?
Provorce is a way for people to end their marriage without the stress, delay, damage and heartache of the traditional divorce litigation process.
And it is potentially less expensive.
Provorce utilizes these three simple principles:
- The pledge not to litigate disputes in court
- An honest, voluntary, prompt, and good-faith exchange of relevant information
- A commitment to strive for solutions that take into account the highest priorities of both parties with their children in mind.
HOW DOES PROVORCE WORK?
Provorce lawyers and their clients work together with financial specialists and mental health professionals in productive, face-to-face meetings to identify and address issues in need of resolution. The Provorce professional team helps the clients identify and achieve their goals by fostering understanding and trust. Clients are able to move beyond the hurt, pain, sadness and anger present in almost every divorce.
IS PROVORCE RIGHT FOR ME AND MY SPOUSE?
Provorce is for couples who want a timely, respectful end to their marriage for the sake of all family members. The process requires both parties to be honest and reasonable. Provorce cannot help you if you are unable to locate your spouse or if you are unable or unwilling to consider different solutions to the issues that need to be resolved in your divorce.
HOW EXPENSIVE AND HOW LONG IS THE PROVORCE PROCESS?
Cost is determined by the time spent with professionals. If your finances are complicated or your emotions are raw you will spend more time sorting them out. What you won’t waste time on is adversarial lawyers who refuse to cooperate with each other costing you thousands of dollars in court appearances, most of which accomplish nothing. Nor will you waste time on lawyers bullying each other to gain unfair advantages. When a case goes to court the clients lose control of the costs. The amount of time spent preparing for court is dictated by the lawyers and the amount of time spent in court is dictated by the Judge. This is very lucrative for lawyers.
In Provorce the lawyers (and clients) agree they will not go court. With no financial incentive to go to court, Provorce lawyers work diligently to help you settle your case. Traditional lawyers are not as committed to helping you settle. Staying out of court keeps you in control of the costs.
HOW IS THE PROVORCE PROCESS DIFFERENT FROM CONVENTIONAL DIVORCE?
The biggest difference is that the clients participate, from day one, in all of the work that needs to be done to reach a settlement. You will know what is going on at all times because you will be involved. This is very different from a conventional divorce where lawyers are writing letters, making proposals and having conversations with each other (or not) without your knowledge or input. In a Provorce you are a crucial, active participant.
The second biggest difference is how everyone interacts with each other. In Provorce, a respectful, creative effort to address the interests and concerns of both spouses replaces tactical bargaining backed by threats of litigation. Neither party takes advantage of the weaknesses, miscalculations or mistakes of the other. Instead of exposing children to their anger, sadness and conflict, parents learn how to protect and nurture them through the divorce process. Both parties in Provorce use neutral financial specialists, mental health consultants, appraisers, and other consultants, instead of “adversarial experts”. The attorneys and involved professionals guide the process to settlement instead of a costly trial.
ARE MY SPOUSE AND I REQUIRED TO GIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO EACH OTHER IN PROVORCE?
Yes. Both parties will be required to fill out a financial disclosure form and to provide statements to confirm amounts in accounts.
DOES PROVORCE PROTECT MY RIGHTS?
Absolutely. Each party’s attorney has an obligation to represent his or her client’s interests. The Provorce lawyer takes responsibility for advancing the client’s interests and guiding the client toward a fair settlement.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AGREEMENT CANNOT BE REACHED?
If agreement can’t be reached, Provorce attorneys may suggest bringing in mediators or other professionals to facilitate a settlement.
CAN EITHER OF US TERMINATE THE PROVORCE PROCESS?
Yes. Either client can always choose to end the Provorce process and go to court. However, if the Provorce process terminates, both clients will be required to hire new lawyers.
HOW CAN I CONVINCE MY SPOUSE TO HIRE A PROVORCE PROFESSIONAL?
It helps if you and your spouse are in agreement about why the marriage is ending and that a divorce is necessary. If you are, you should talk about how you want to remember this time in your life. Or how you want your children to remember it. If you agree to do as little harm as possible, a Provorce is the best way. Whether or not you are in agreement you might want to start by meeting with one of our mental health professionals to decide together about the process. If you hire a Provorce attorney first, he or she can help you find the best way to talk to your spouse about the benefits of this process.
IS PROVORCE ONLY FOR “AMICABLE” DIVORCES OR SEPARATIONS?
No. Anger is a natural response to the disruption of our primary relationships in life. We know that it is not easy to detach from a primary emotional relationship. In Provorce, clients receive support and guidance from mental health professionals in addition to legal counsel to better understand and manage this difficult process.