What is Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative divorce allows you and your spouse (or you and your former life-partner, if unmarried) to work through a non-adversarial process to reach the best result for yourselves and your children. Rather than battling over these issues in open court—and entrusting the result to a judge who will have limited information about your situation—you and your respective collaborative attorneys privately work together through a series of shorter meetings scheduled at your convenience.
Collaborative divorce attorneys encourage and equip you to work together to reach the best plan for your future, rather than engage in an exhausting and seemingly endless fight. This approach addresses all the same issues as those discussed during a traditional divorce, including:
- Child custody and visitation rights
- Child support
- Equitable distribution
- Sale or possession of the marital home
- Post-separation support and alimony
Instead of “taking positions” and “drawing lines in the sand,” parties and their collaborative attorneys learn to engage in constructive and respectful dialogue about their and their children’s best interests.
For couples who want to keep things civil as they divorce—and model respect and cooperation for their children despite the painful transition—collaborative divorce might be a better alternative to litigation. Our attorneys are trained in collaborative practice and have been privileged to help separating couples and estranged parents achieve lasting and amicable settlements.
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