Collaborative divorce is a new approach to the divorce process that has been slowly gaining traction over the last several years. Traditional divorce litigation is an adversarial process that often just builds resentment and creates emotional damage between the parties. The goal of a collaborative divorce is to end the marriage in a way that is acceptable to everyone. Sacrifices and difficult decisions must still be made, however, the spouses are often able to maintain a healthy relationship when the process is over.
The divorce coach is one of the most, if not the most, important part of the collaborative divorce process. Divorce is difficult for everyone, period. Emotional issues arise, feelings are hurt, and lives are turned upside down. The divorce coach is a neutral mental health professional who helps both spouses and the children navigate the divorce.
One of the biggest advantages to having a divorce coach is communication. In a traditional divorce both sides are represented by attorneys who are staunch advocates for their clients. This often results in unproductive and heated exchanges. The divorce coach facilitates calm and cooperative communication between the spouses. Because the divorce coach is neutral, he or she can often see and explain both sides of an argument.
The financial specialist has two main goals. The first goal is to create an accurate financial picture of the couple's assets, liabilities, and income. Second, the financial specialist will create a budget and forward-looking financial plan for each party. Financial security is often one of the most difficult, scary, and contested issues in a divorce. The financial specialist will attempt to create a solution that everyone can live with.
A collaborative divorce can be either more or less expensive than a litigated divorce. To learn about how much a litigated divorce cost review this article on my website. A fully contested divorce that is decided at a final hearing can cost each side in excess of $15,000 to $30,000 dollars. However, the typical divorce case will settle along the way, at a significantly lower price.
A collaborative divorce involves a total of four professionals. Two attorneys, one mental health, and a financial specialist. The hourly rate of the mental health professional and the financial specialist are traditionally lower than the hourly fee of the attorneys. Some of the work, like preparing a parenting plan and financial discovery, are done by these other professionals. In traditional litigation, both attorneys do this work on their own. In collaborative divorce, this work is only done once and at a reduced rate. Therefore, while not cheap, a collaborative divorce can result in significant cost savings.
Collaborative divorce is a much better solution than a litigated divorce for the majority of clients. However, here are some factors to consider when deciding if collaborative divorce is right for you.
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