S. Roger Rombro Family Law Blog on Lawyers.com

When Should You Settle vs. Going to Court?

Deciding when to settle or when to take your case to court requires consideration of all the pros and cons. You will want to discuss your situation with a skilled and experienced attorney before deciding. The attorney will bring legal expertise to the table and you will bring your personal input regarding your needs and wishes. When you have put your trust in a qualified attorney, have confidence in that attorney’s recommendations on whether you should settle or go to court.

The ramifications of taking your case to court could be positive or negative depending on your priorities. If you wish to be finished with the process and your Los Angeles family law attorney agrees that the amount of the settlement offered to you is fair, then you might choose immediate closure and settle out of court.

If you and your attorney believe you have a strong case and that the settlement is unacceptable then moving forward to trial makes sense. It is import that you feel like you can tolerate the trial process and are willing to spend the time that going to court might take.

The benefits from going to court might be that you will feel validated when you have an opportunity to testify on your own behalf. You may feel that only by going to court, justice will be served. If you receive a winning verdict, you may be awarded a larger sum of money for your losses. You may also feel that with legal representation in the courtroom, you will have put forth the best case possible and be happy with whatever the outcome will be. With all of these reasons, going to court would be the best action for you.

On the other hand, settling out of court might spare you unnecessary stress and end the whole process quickly and easily without the expenses of going to trial. If you and your attorney have discussed the settlement amount and you feel it will cover all of your losses and compensate you fairly, then settling might be your better decision.

Every situation is different and deciding when to go to court and when to settle will depend on the particulars of each case and the considerations of the parties involved.

Article contributed by Los Angeles family law attorneys Rombro & Associates, (310) 545-1900, www.rombrolaw.com.