Even under the best of circumstances, a divorce can be challenging. When you have a fairly high profile in your community, however, divorce can impact both your social and professional lives – not just your private one.
This is why a lot of couples consider using private judges to end their marriages. Colorado law permits the appointment of a retired judge to make binding decisions – just the way that any other family court judge might.
What are the advantages of a private judge?
First, you automatically increase the level of privacy around your divorce. Hearings with a private judge are held in neutral locations, outside the courtroom. This can be to your advantage if you’re concerned about being spotted going in and out of the courthouse. This can be particularly important if you’re a local celebrity or have a professional practice you want to protect from gossip.
Second, you gain more flexibility. Not only do you and your spouse get to choose the judge together (which helps ensure fairness), but you also aren’t at the mercy of the court’s calendar. This can make it easier to get your divorce finished since you can generally expect a higher level of attention to detail and faster hearings.
Finally, you may have a less adversarial divorce. The lack of the courtroom atmosphere and the process of picking a judge together can set the tone for a more relaxed, cooperative divorce.
There are a lot of decisions that have to be made in any divorce. Make sure that you have some solid legal guidance as you explore all of the potential options.