Divorces aren’t easy.
No matter what the final reasoning was behind making this choice – it was no doubt a difficult one. At one point you loved this person so much that you envisioned your entire life with them. Now you have a family and need to figure out the best way to transition into your new life.
Many couples end up in lengthy, high conflict situations with attorneys on both sides battling to divide property and custody of children. Other couples may have no problem splitting and simply need help getting paperwork done – the rest they can figure out themselves.
For everyone else there is an option you may or may not be familiar with yet.
Collaborative Divorce.
Couples who may not be on the same page in terms of property division, child custody and spousal support, but are willing and able to do whatever it takes to make the process run smoothly can really benefit from this way of proceeding with their divorce.
In short, collaborative divorce is a process in which you and your spouse negotiate an acceptable agreement with a variety of professionals (or a team) helping navigate the process. This may include an attorney, financial specialist, child specialist and co-parenting advisor.
There are many benefits to handling divorce in the hands of a group of professionals with your financial and family situation in mind including:
- No trial or litigious hearings and agreement of legal procedures to cut down expenses
- Stability through a temporary agreement
- Voluntary exchange of information
- A negotiated a settlement
- Come to an agreement on how post divorce issue will be handled.
- Mediation Training
- Neutral Financial Specialist who helps you and your spouse understand any issues surrounding your divorce
Main Goals of Collaborative Divorce
While it is nice to stay out of court and save a little cash, the main benefit of collaborative divorce is that it puts the children first. The child specialist works as the voice of the children throughout the proceedings while a co-parenting specialist helps create a plan for how you can most effectively take care of your child after the divorce is complete so that he/she is not negatively affected by the experience.
At the same time, the financial specialist will serve as an un-biased intermediary to help resolve property and budget issues so that there isn’t any unnecessary burden on either party and that things are split up amicably.
What does a Collaborative Divorce Cost?
It depends on the team of professionals you end up working with. One thing that is for certain is that it is a lot less expensive than a traditional divorce. You are not paying for costs associated with hearings, discovery of information or even court delays. Instead you are typically paying hourly fees for the help of the aforementioned professionals as they help try and make this experience a much more pleasant one.
Where can I find out more on Collaborative Divorce?
The links below can be very helpful for those considering a collaborative divorce in the state of North Carolina.
Have a military veteran of the Persian Gulf War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) or Afghanistan War (Operation Enduring Freedom) in your family?
