Collaborative Divorce – Why It’s Better

Collaborative Divorce is an approach where the divorcing spouses each have legal representation by attorneys, however those attorneys commit to work toward settlement. They work with other mental health and financial professionals to create a team to help the couple reach a settlement and move forward. This reduces extended and expensive litigation, and provides solutions that make sense.

This approach was started about 30 years ago as a better alternative to straightforward mediation. Each spouse has an attorney protecting their best interests but also working towards settlement, as as opposed to a mediator who must remain neutral and may not be legally trained.

Collaborative practice groups are now more common. The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals trains members and manages professional and ethical standards of work. 

It’s not true that you must “battle it out” in court. The Collaborative approach helps to protect the mental health of each party and avoids the expense and stress of prolonged court visits.

The Academy describes it thus: “It allows the clients, working together with their professional team, to explore creative solutions to fit their needs on both a short and long-term basis. This may lead to agreements that are not constrained by the posturing, rigid positions, and formulas which characterize traditional negotiations or court-imposed results.”

Melissa is trained as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®.) For more information on how she can help you, please visit her website.