SELF-NEGOTIATION -- you and your spouse work out all the details, which are then formalized in the proper court documents.

MEDIATION -- you and your spouse work with a mediator whose job is to facilitate discussions that end up in partial or whole agreements, which are then formalized into the proper court documents. Mediation can occur before anyone does anything to start the lawsuit of divorce or at any time after the case is legally started.

COLLABORATIVE LAW -- both of you have attorneys who are committed to resolving the case cooperatively and who will not represent you in court except in joint paperwork. Very complex cases have been resolved through collaborative lawyers.

ATTORNEY-ASSISTED NEGOTIATION -- for whatever reason, you believe amicable resolution is possible, but you do not have all the information you need from your spouse or you do not feel comfortable working directly with your spouse. Attorney-assisted negotiation can be in person with or without you present or by correspondence. If negotiations fail, the attorney will appear in court on your behalf.

LITIGATION -- there are disputes about the facts or the law or the appropriate resolution which cannot be resolved by agreement, and someone else needs to hear what each side has to say and make a decision. Litigation can take place in court, or it can be referred to a private decision-maker such as an arbitrator or special master, where you have more control over selecting the decision-maker and the timing of the hearings than you would have in a court setting.

PRO SE-- representation in district court or through the child support division of the Office of Administrative Hearings.

COMBINATIONS OF THE ABOVE that are appropriate for different issues, or that may be suitable at different times in the case.