Collaborative Divorce

In the Collaborative Divorce process, couples work together as a team with their respective lawyers and other professionals (such as child specialists and financial professionals), to reach a global agreement and resolve their divorce without court intervention. 

In a Collaborative Divorce, the parties attend meetings with their professional team, during which relevant information is gathered and analyzed so that all issues of the divorce can ultimately be resolved.

One important component of this process is that if the parties are unable to reach an agreement, and one or both of them choose to litigate the case, both of the parties' attorneys must withdraw, and the parties must find new attorneys. This is a limitation but also an incentive for the couple to work toward a settlement rather than resorting to litigation.

While Collaborative Divorce is not for everyone, it is an excellent choice for many couples.

Some benefits of Collaborative Divorce:

1. A higher degree of control over the process, including the timing of resolution, as courts can be very impacted, causing traditional divorce to take a long time to be resolved.

2. Collaborative Divorce proceedings are private, and the parties have more agency over what becomes part of the public record than in court.

3. In terms of cost, while Collaborative Divorce typically involves higher up-front fees to retain the professional team, itt can be less expensive than litigation overall, due to the parties' higher level of control over the timing and the process.

4. Perhaps most importantly, Collaborative Divorce is rooted in transparency, collaboration, and open communication, which can create a stronger foundation for agreements and reduce conflict, which makes for a more humane process, particularly when there are children involved.