Choose the Judge. Know the Cost. Skip the Courtroom. with Amanda Mason of SOLAGREE on Divorce & Beyond #433

What would you say if I told you there is a way to choose the judge for your divorce, and skip the courtroom, entirely? The answer might surprise you. It's arbitration. In almost six years of Divorce and Beyond, arbitration has never been part of the conversation, until now.

Susan Guthrie welcomes family law attorney Amanda Mason, co-founder and CEO of Solagree, a virtual flat-fee divorce process that puts expert financial and parenting guidance and mediation first, with private arbitration as the backdrop, so nobody gets stuck and nobody ends up in court. Amanda built Solagree after going through her own divorce, including a full custody trial in the same courthouse where she had practiced for years. She knows the system from both sides of the counsel table and has decided families deserve something better.

This conversation explores why delay and fear fuel conflict, why functioning is not the same as healing, and how closing the exits keeps both spouses committed to reaching resolution. For anyone going through a divorce, and the professionals helping families restructure through it, this one changes what you think your options are.

Together, Susan and Amanda break down how arbitration cuts the delay that fuels conflict, why it is not litigation light, and how agreeing up front that an arbitrator will decide whatever you can't settle closes the exits so no one can walk away or drag it out forever. For anyone going through a divorce, and the professionals helping families restructure through it, this one changes what you think your options are.What You'll Hear:

How arbitration lets you and your spouse choose a decision-maker with deep family law experience, even for their reputation for kindness, instead of whichever judge is assigned to your case.

Why delay creates conflict, with every month waiting for a court date adding paperwork updates, professional fees, and distrust.

How fear stops people from settling, and why starting with financial and parenting specialists before anyone negotiates makes settlement stop feeling impossible.

Why this is not litigation light, keeping every tool from expert witnesses to appraisals while giving up the backlog, the formality, and the courtroom.

About this week's special guest: Amanda Mason

Amanda Mason is a family law attorney, certified mediator, and the co-founder and CEO of SOLAGREE®, a virtual, flat-fee divorce process built to keep families out of court.

Admitted to the North Carolina bar in 2003, Amanda has s