How Does Collaborative Divorce Work?

If you’ve started researching alternatives to a traditional divorce, you’ve probably come across one known as “collaborative divorce.” This approach is ideal for couples who would rather handle their divorce outside of the traditional courtroom setting. Here are a few answers to commonly asked questions that can help you decide whether collaborative divorce is the right option for your needs:

• What’s expected of the spouses? The goal of collaborative divorce is to reach a mutually agreeable resolution. With that in mind, the spouses are expected to focus on settlement options instead of “winning” in a traditional sense. They’re also expected to be transparent with their financial records.
• Do the spouses have legal representation? Yes, they do. During a collaborative divorce, each spouse is represented by a collaboratively trained attorney.
• Who else is involved in a collaborative divorce? The spouses and their respective attorneys work with a neutral facilitator and a neutral financial professional, along with any other necessary professionals (such as guardians ad litem and child specialists).
• Is what’s discussed confidential? Yes, the collaborative divorce process is private.
• What if there are children involved? If the spouses share children, they’ll need to agree to focus on the children’s best interests rather than their own personal needs.
• What happens if the spouses aren’t able to reach a settlement? Agreeing to participate in a collaborative divorce is a completely voluntary decision, and either spouse can decide to terminate the process at any time. If that happens, though, each spouse will need to retain a new attorney for the rest of the divorce proceedings.

Tampa Bay Attorneys Trained in Collaborative Divorce

If you’d like to know more about what collaborative divorce entails, you can get the answers you need from the Law Offices of Audrey A. Jefferis, P.A. Ms. Jefferis is trained in collaborative law and holds membership in the Next Generation Divorce Group and the Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce Group. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.