While some divorces are rancorous, resulting in a lengthy and emotionally draining courtroom show-down, many couples in Florida may want to part ways more amicably. These couples may be interested in settling their divorce through the collaborative law process.
The following is a brief overview of collaborative divorce, but as always, it is important to seek professional guidance to determine if this type of divorce is right for you.
Like mediation, a collaborative divorce is an out-of-court method couples can use to settle their divorce issues. However, mediators are not always capable of handling complex divorce cases. In a collaborative divorce, not only is each spouse represented by an attorney, but other professionals can be involved as well, such as therapists and accountants.
It is important that those who choose collaborative divorce do so with the confidence that they will be able to reach a settlement on all their divorce issues. If any divorce issues remain unresolved, the parties must start from square one and hire new lawyers as they go through the litigation process.
Moreover, no agreements they have made in the collaborative divorce process will be admissible in subsequent court proceedings. These costs and consequences provide an incentive to both parties to make the collaborative divorce process work.
In the end, collaborative divorce may be a good option for some couples who are able to cooperate to reach a settlement on their divorce issues. However, if divorcing couples are not on good terms with one another, choosing mediation or even traditional litigation may be the better option. Because these are very personal decisions, many couples choose to seek legal guidance before determining what type of divorce is right for them.