What is Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative divorce is the newest divorce dispute-resolution model.  It is a process through which the parties and their attorneys commit themselves to resolve all the issues of the divorce by negotiated agreement without resorting, or threatening to resort, to litigation.  The process encourages the free exchange of information, conferences with the parties and their attorneys, and meetings with a team of professionals who are retained to assist in the process.

Participants usually include the parties, family law attorneys representing each party who offer legal counsel and navigate the divorce process, coaches for each party to guide them through the difficult issues that arise when a divorce occurs, and who provide the parties with the information necessary to move forward, a child specialist (when children are involved) who assists in creating a parenting plan, a financial advisor who assesses the parties finances, and provides advice for the division and distribution of those finances.  The team of participants has the ability to dedicate significantly more time to the family dynamics than a family court judge due to case load and time restrictions inherent in the court system.