Divorce, as common as it is in today’s times, is still a stressful process to go through for many if not all couples. Breaking up of a relationship and marriage is exhausting in itself, but when the couples have to battle it out in court, it just adds to the stress. This is why the concept of collaborative divorce and opting for a collaborative divorce lawyer has gained popularity over the past few years. But what exactly is collaborative divorce and how does it make any difference? This is exactly what we are going to discuss in the following article.
If you are someone struggling through an unhappy marriage and have decided to get a divorce, but are still confused about the collaborative divorce process, then this article will surely prove to be helpful for you. Read on to learn what collaborative divorce is and how it works.
What Is Collaborative Divorce?
As opposed to the litigation process, the collaborative divorce process is more of an out-of-court settlement between the couple. However, it is more than just negotiation. The settlement is done through a proper legal process and with the help of a qualified legal team that is led by a collaborative divorce lawyer.
This process is much preferred by many couples as they get more control over the divorce process without having to go through the stress of court hearings. This process can be a better option when both parties involved are in agreement for a mutual out-of-court settlement.
The divorce process is quite unpredictable, but with collaborative divorce, you get a basic idea of what to expect throughout the process.
How Does The Collaborative Divorce Process Work?
Now that we have seen what collaborative divorce is, now let’s see how the collaborative divorce process works. The whole collaborative divorce process can be divided into three phases. These phases are as follows:
1. Taking the process seriously and hiring a team to go ahead with the process.
The first phase of the collaborative divorce process is to make the decision of going forward with the process and then hire a team for the same. Both parties involved need to select a well-qualified team of lawyers that is led by a good collaborative divorce lawyer. When the teams have been formed, the concerned parties and their respective attorneys sign an agreement of participation. This agreement solidifies that the team has made a commitment towards going forward with the divorce settlement. The agreement also protects any personal information that is shared or discussed within the group.
2. Attending team meetings in order to reach a settlement that suits both the parties involved.
Both teams need to have time-to-time team meetings that will allow the parties to discuss important topics and reach a settlement that will be beneficial to both. These meetings are commonly referred to as four-way meetings. The main focus and topics of discussion are the interest and needs of both parties, kids, and pets involved,
3. Reaching the final settlement and finalization of the divorce.
The final phase of the collaborative divorce process is the agreement on the final settlement and then the finalization of a divorce. This is the step after the final negotiation. Once both parties come to an agreement on the negotiation, the final settlement is done and the divorce can be finalized.
So to conclude, collaborative divorce is a much less stressful divorce process that gives the client control over their divorce. This is why the collaborative divorce process is preferred by many clients.
