How does Collaborative Divorce work?
In a Collaborative Divorce, each spouse engages a Collaborative lawyer. The lawyers put together a team for the family, which may include a neutral financial expert and process facilitators, who are trained in Collaborative process decision making and mental health. The use of shared, neutral experts greatly reduces the financial burdens that accompany a traditional divorce. The team works together to: learn everything needed to help the family make the best decisions about their future; help the spouses maintain control over the outcomes; maximize privacy of information; help the family create a Parenting Plan for the children. Collaborative process is efficient, economical, and private. The method empowers families to control the outcome, rather than entrusting such important family matters to a court.
Will Collaborative Work for Me?
Collaborative Process works for almost all divorces – whether the spouses are committed to a peaceful resolution or focused on arguing. The Collaborative team works together with the clients to explore options until solutions are found that work for both spouses. Spouses who can embrace the reality of their current situation and commit to finding solutions will benefit most. Collaborative Process may not be appropriate for some families, such as those facing domestic violence. Collaborative Process can also help non-traditional families or unmarried couples resolve unique issues of which a court may be unfamiliar or lack authority to consider.
Collaborative Process can be used to resolve other family matter too:
- parenting plans
- alimony
- child support
- equitable distribution
- separation of unmarried parties
- paternity
- custody and visitation
- timesharing
- pre-nuptial and post-nuptial (separation) agreements
The following information was put together by FACP to help you better understand the Collaborative Process and how it may help you.
ABOUT COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE
What is it?
How does it Work?
Will it work for me?
Where do I start?
CONSULT A COLLABORATIVE PROFESSIONAL
Collaborative Attorneys
Financial Professionals
Mental Health Professionals
Facilitators and Mediators
FACP BLOG: COLLABORATIVE ARTICLES & NEWS
The FACP blog provides information on Family and Collaborative Law, Florida Divorce Laws, and FACP news
ADDITIONAL COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE RESOURCES
FAQ
Online Resources
Webinars
Books
What Florida is Saying About Collaborative:
“There are a lot of reasons to like Collaborative Divorce. Divorce is one of the worst times in anyone’s life. By the time someone consults an attorney they are wrapped up in anger, fear and regret. The Collaborative Team helps craft a comprehensive, tailor made Marital Settlement Agreement; the neutrals empower spouses to creatively redefine a positive vision for their future. All that without an expensive, exhausting, stressful, time consuming, anger driven courtroom battle. What’s not to like?”
“Collaborative Divorce is constructive work. One client told me, ‘I was surprised that we were able to listen to each other as well as we did. The professionals were active in helping us hear each other.’ Another remarked, ‘The process gave me insight. The team cleared up any questions we had. We were goal centered and common ground was easy to find.’ Another said, ‘The most amazing thing was how we were all on the same team, the neutrals and our lawyers –and both of us–just trying to get this resolved. I learned how to communicate with him,to calm down, and to think about the words I would say that could make our discussion better….”
Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals
As a Florida statewide membership organization of Collaborative Professionals, we strive to create a culture in which the Collaborative Process is the prevailing method for the resolution of disputes beginning with family law and evolving into other areas of law, including: divorce, custody or timesharing, parenting plans, child support, alimony, paternity, equitable distribution, pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, probate disputes, guardianships, elder law, etc.
