What is Collaborative Divorce?
Peaceful. Private. Respectful.
Restructuring Your Family Collaboratively
Collaborative Divorce gives you and your spouse a structured way to make the legal, financial and family decisions that come with divorce. Instead of turning important decisions over to a judge, you work with a professional team to address the legal, financial and emotional issues that come with restructuring a family.
Clients who choose Collaborative Divorce engage a professional team that includes:
- A Collaborative attorney for each spouse
- A neutral financial professional
- A neutral mental health facilitator
Each professional brings a different area of expertise to one coordinated process.
How Does Collaborative Divorce Work?
Collaborative Divorce begins with a shared commitment to resolve the divorce outside of court. Both spouses agree to exchange the information needed to make informed decisions and work toward solutions together.
From there, the process moves through a series of structured conversations. With guidance from the team, you identify the issues that need to be resolved, establish priorities, consider options and work toward agreements one decision at a time.
If the process ends and either spouse chooses to go to court, both Collaborative attorneys must withdraw from the case.
What the Process Helps You Do
Make informed decisions
Understand the information you need to plan your future.
Stay in control
You and your spouse make the decisions, not a judge.
Keep matters private
Sensitive family and financial discussions stay outside the courtroom.
Plan for your children
Create a parenting plan designed around your family’s needs.
Will Collaborative Work for Me?
Collaborative Divorce can work for many couples, including those who disagree about important issues. You do not have to begin the process with everything figured out or already be in agreement.
Collaborative Divorce may be a good fit if you are willing to:
- Share financial and other important information openly
- Consider different options before making decisions
- Work toward agreements in good faith
- Keep the divorce outside of court while using the Collaborative Process
The process can address the major issues that arise in divorce, including parenting and time-sharing, child support, alimony, and the division of assets and debts.
Collaborative Practice can also be used for other family matters, including paternity, separation of unmarried partners, and prenuptial or postnuptial agreements.
What the Results Show
Collaborative Divorce has been used by families across Florida and throughout the country. Available data shows that most Collaborative cases reach resolution without litigation.
Length of Florida Cases
Outcome of Florida Cases
How to Start the Collaborative Process
Ready to explore whether Collaborative Divorce is right for you? Getting started can be simple.
1
TALK
Talk with your spouse or partner about resolving your family matter through the Collaborative Process.
2
LEARN
Learn more about the process together and consider whether it fits your family and your goals.
3
CONSULT
Speak with a Collaborative professional in your area about your situation and next steps.