At this point, you’ve probably exhausted all possible options for keeping your marriage together. You’ve tried talking with your spouse, but communication is strained. You’ve sought advice from family and friends, but nothing seems to work. You’ve attended counseling sessions or couples’ retreats, but the relationship is beyond repair. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be thinking that traditional divorce is your only option. However, collaborative divorce could be a viable alternative to going to court.
How collaborative divorce works
A collaborative divorce is considered a great option for separating couples who can work together to decide what’s in their best interest moving forward. It uses the principles of collaborative law to guide the divorce process with less conflict, better communication, and lasting resolutions.
In these cases, couples agree not to go to court. Instead, they agree to dissolve their marriage in a respectful manner by focusing on their respective goals and generating mutually beneficial solutions to outstanding issues.
Collaborative divorce is ideal for:
- Individuals who want to maintain a healthy relationship with their former spouses after the divorce
- Divorcing couples with children, who want to maintain communications
- Couples who would agree on making their own decisions about parenting and financial arrangements instead of having the court impose orders
- Individuals who want to maintain their family’s privacy
Instead of going to court, the parties work with a team of professionals to reach an agreement that meets the needs of each spouse and their children. In addition to collaborative attorneys, the team may include counselors, child advocates, mediators, and neutral accountants.
Each of these third-party liaisons is committed to settling the case without going to court. In addition, both spouses and their respective attorneys sign an agreement specifying that the attorneys will not represent the parties if the case ends up in litigation.
Each spouse meets with their respective attorneys and the whole team meets together regularly.
At some point, the parties will have to go to court to file documents and obtain a final divorce decree. However, the collaborative process ensures an agreement is amicable, so the legal process is simplified and results in an uncontested divorce.
Before making any decision, it’s important to understand your options. To find out if collaborative divorce is a good option for you, contact Sauls Law Group or give us a call at (770) 212-9168 to set up a free consultation.
Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash
