Celina Henry
While divorces happen all the time, they are difficult for those who are going through them. The goal for most divorces should be to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. A long divorce proceeding is not an ideal situation. If you and your spouse can work together on the terms of your divorce, you may be able to get through it faster with a collaborative divorce. Here are some things you should know about collaborative divorce.
What Is Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative divorce occurs when you and your spouse negotiate your divorce agreement on your own terms. Each of your attorneys will work with you to figure out a settlement that is fair for everyone. During this process, you will meet to discuss the aspects of your divorce, including child custody, alimony, asset division, and the like. You may need to have the assistance of specialists in some areas that are more complex, such as accountants and financial advisors.
Do You Go to Court?
One of the most attractive parts of a collaborative divorce is that you do not have to go to court to settle your divorce terms. You and your spouse, along with your attorneys, will sign an agreement to not attend court before you begin your negotiations. If you are not able to negotiate a fair agreement, your attorneys will have to withdraw from your collaborative divorce and you will have to go to court for a judge to decide on your settlement.
If your negotiations are successful, you will still need to attend court for just a brief moment to legally end your marriage. You will petition for an uncontested divorce and have the necessary paperwork signed to finalize the divorce.
Are There Other Benefits?
While a collaborative divorce is faster, there are some additional benefits as well. This process is less expensive than a traditional divorce, and you do not have to worry about subpoenas since you both will voluntarily agree to meet on your own terms. You will each determine the decisions and how they will impact your lives after the divorce is final. In addition, a collaborative divorce is not as emotionally taxing. If you have children, you do not need to involve them at all, and they will not have to go to court to see the end of their parent's marriage.
A collaborative divorce is ideal if you both know what your goals are for your divorce. You should consider this option if you believe you can both work together. Talk with a divorce lawyer today for more information.
Going through a divorce? I know how you might feel – alone, stressed out, and probably even a little sad due to the loss of the life you have always known. Whether you have children or not, you might even feel a little guilty about the break down of your relationship. But I'm here to tell you that a divorce is not the end of the world. In fact, once you get used to the idea and start to move on with your life, you may find just as much, if not more, happiness than you ever had while you were married! Getting through the proceedings of your divorce in a dignified manner is the first step, and hopefully this website will give you the insight, support, and motivation you need to get through the process as painlessly as possible.