What Is Collaborative Law?
The collaborative process provides spouses with a client-based approach to divorce/dissolution. Rather than attorneys being at the forefront of the negotiations, the spouses are involved at every juncture. The process values the goals and interest of both clients. Joint discussions with the parties and attorneys strive to formulate agreements benefiting both spouses and their children. This process allows for creative arrangements not otherwise possible through the court. It also removes the adversity that is driven by litigation.
Is This Process Helpful For Children?
The impact of divorce on children is always important to consider in choosing a process. The collaborative method involves constructing parenting plans with the assistance of the attorneys or a Family Relations Custody Specialist. The focus is on providing parents the tools, not just during the process, but for successful parenting beyond the divorce. Litigation, on the other hand, can pull the children into the process. This impacts them and their relationship with the parents.
Is The Process Faster Than Litigation?
It can be, since the spouses control the pace rather than the court. Perhaps the most beneficial component of a collaborative case, even as opposed to a dissolution, is that the collaborative statute provides for an immediate final hearing upon the court filing. A dissolution filing requires a 45 day waiting period.
