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Just because you are separating or divorcing doesn’t mean your  personal and financial life need to be on public display  The collaborative process can maintain your family’s privacy regarding very personal issues like parenting arrangements and finances. By working together on a divorce agreement, you and your spouse can come to terms on sensitive issues that will later be presented to the court in a much less public fashion, providing for you and any children involved. You are also taking a proactive step in avoiding the type of confrontation that can often result in privacy breaches for both parties. Protecting your privacy can be particularly helpful if children are involved. In the collaborative process, you and your spouse work with your attorneys to create a parenting plan that is uniquely suited to your children’s best interests, addressing both parents’ concerns. With this type of cooperative negotiation, you have the opportunity to work out the kinks together with the help of an experienced professional; only your final agreements are included in the divorce decree. Although your final divorce decree is a public document, you can work with your attorney to draft it  in a way that protects all involved parties, guarding information that may be sensitive or compromising to the health of your family. The collaborative process protects your family’s privacy as the entire process is confidential, including the discussions in your meetings with your spouse, the recommendations and work of any neutral professionals, and of course any discussions you have with your attorney. By agreeing to work together peacefully, you and your spouse can avoid many of the emotional ups and downs that can come with a traditional divorce. During the highs and lows of a more combative process, even the most reasonable and respectful person can become carried away, lashing out or spreading information with the intent to hurt the other party. While divorce is an emotional process no matter what, the collaborative method is designed to mitigate unnecessary confrontation with an innovative team approach that works to preserve the positive aspects of your relationship.

There are many benefits to choosing a collaborative divorce over the traditional “you vs. them” approach. Preserving the family dynamic, protecting any children or other family members involved from unnecessary stress and drama, and honoring your relationship with your former partner as it transitions are all invaluable elements of the collaborative process. Another benefit of a collaborative divorce is the potential to avoid more combative litigation as the divorce proceeds. Divorce is an emotional experience, fraught with mixed emotions that are further complicated by the need to resolve practical issues. By choosing representation that is focused on cooperative resolution, you can mitigate much of the strain, both emotional and financial, that many assume is an unavoidable byproduct of the divorce process. When you and your partner choose a collaborative divorce process, you are committing to achieve a mutually acceptable resolution for both parties on all the important issues. Once designated as collaborative attorneys for the parties, neither attorney can go to court to resolve outstanding issues and must withdraw from the case if either party terminates the collaborative process. The collaborative family law process: Allows each party to move at his or her pace Reduces acrimony Reduces uncertainty Reduces inefficiency Supports and preserves self-respect and respect for the other person Maintains privacy Promotes a healthy revised family structure While there are sure to be bumps in the road in any divorce process, by committing to collaboration and open communication, you and your former spouse can avoid getting into the warlike mentality that can unfortunately arise from such a difficult life decision. By choosing to operate with respect and transparency from the beginning, both parties can ensure that combative litigation is unnecessary, and that a positive future, post-divorce, is possible.  

When you contemplate divorce, maintaining your children’s health and well-being through the process is naturally one of your primary concerns. Traditional divorces can instill a feeling of combativeness, a “me against them” mentality. You can often feel alone in a world filled with legal terms and strangers. This can lead to the stress of feeling like you are unable to protect your children. Collaborative divorce offers you the opportunity to avoid the “war” that divorce can become. You and your partner chose to become married. It was a time of joy and hope for the future. While divorce is indeed an end to those original expectations, it should not need to be the end of your family or the hope and future of a healthy family life for your children. You can choose to work together to plan a future for your children that is still safe and secure. It can be a healthy and family centered environment for them, while providing you with the freedom of choice and security that you are protecting and providing for them with minimal interference from “strangers.” When you choose Collaborative divorce the decisions remain with you. We work with you to effectively communicate your desires for the disposition not only of your possessions, but more importantly of the time and assets you both believe are important to your children. We work as a team to effectively come up with a divorce solution that you both agree is beneficial to each of you and your children in your newly defined family. As a team, our goal is to: Be more efficient with your time and money Limit the number of decisions left exclusively up to the court Keep much of the decision-making power with you Instill and nurture a civil, respectful, cooperative attitude in the divorce process Reduce the stress of divorce so you and your spouse can continue to effectively parent your children. A divorce, regardless of the process you choose, will never be easy. It is a difficult time filled with important decisions and discussions. It does not have to be a fight. By choosing Collaborative Divorce you begin working toward a positive, safe solution for everyone. Call to set up a time to speak with our collaborative attorneys about how you can get started on a family-centered solution.  

What is Collaborative Divorce? Collaborative divorce is a resolution-focused alternative to more traditional divorce methods. In a collaborative divorce situation, divorcing couples seek to mediate a fair and equitable division of marital assets with as little involvement of the court as possible. It seeks to emphasize the collaborative nature of the marriage partnership in order to set aside differences and work toward an agreement that honors both partners wishes. It emphasizes privacy and the maintenance of a healthy family dynamic. It gives more control to you as a couple to create an agreement suitable for your unique situation.   Benefits of Collaborative Divorce for Children Divorce is difficult for the two people who are choosing to go separate ways, but for any children who may have been the product of the marriage, it can be even more stressful. As they struggle to understand complex adult dynamics that are affecting their lives so dramatically, it is important to keep their needs in the forefront. Children may become despondent or stressed at the thought of having to take sides or choose between parents as a divorce progresses. If a divorce is something that is imminent between you and your spouse, you might want to consider a collaborative divorce that may spare your children unnecessary heartache and confusion . It can be a welcome alternative for everyone in the family, as you work together to maintain a healthy dynamic even as you deal with difficult circumstances.