The unthinkable has happened- you or your spouse decided to pursue a divorce. Now what? It’s time for a long, contentious slog in court with fighting, bickering, and hefty fees, right?
What if there was another way – private, non-adversarial, potentially less costly, and much better for your family as a whole? Going to court is not the only way to get through a divorce. In fact, there are a few ways to avoid costly court divorces. Let’s take a look at one of them – the Collaborative Divorce Process to see if it’s a right fit for you.
What is Collaborative Divorce?
Instead of going to court and having a judge decide all your family issues and how assets and debts are divided – you and your spouse maintain control over the process, choose your own professionals to be part of your team, and discuss options for resolution that work best for your family. At the bare minimum, each of you has a Collaboratively Trained attorney, but having other professionals such as a divorce financial specialist that works with both of you, will help better ensure the process goes smoothly.
Why should you consider Collaborative Divorce?
There are a few options when considering how to handle your divorce. One is Mediation where you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third-party facilitator to discuss spousal and child support, along with your assets and debts and how best to split them. This is a great option if your divorce is amicable, or you have few assets.
However, Collaborative Divorce offers the opportunity of legal advice and unbiased input from other team members, WITHOUT the complexity of the courts. If you feel there is a power imbalance in your relationship, the extra support of an attorney can bolster your confidence.
When is Collaborative Divorce perhaps not the best idea?
If your divorce is particularly contentious, or you feel like your spouse would not be honest, transparent, and communicate openly, Collaborative Divorce may not work. Additionally, if you start the Collaborative Process, but are not able to resolve an issue without Court assistance, your Collaborative attorney will not be able to represent you in that particular Court Proceeding.
Is Collaborative Divorce right for you? Call our office at (850) 252-6325 to schedule your 30-minute initial strategy session. We can walk you through the process, and help you make the best decision for your situation.
You also can visit: www.divorceoptionsflorida.com and sign up for a free Divorce Options educational workshop to learn the advantages and challenges of four different divorce options: 1. Do It Yourself, 2. Litigation, 3 Meditation, and 4. Collaborative Divorce. Understand ALL your divorce options, before hastily choosing one.
