Collaborative Divorce – The Process
Collaborative divorce is a peaceful divorce solution to an otherwise traditionally court-litigated divorce. Many couples turn to the collaborative divorce method instead of turning the end of their marriage into a struggle. If you and your spouse are willing to try and work together, the collaborative divorce process might be the right for you.
A collaborative process divorce involves each spouse securing legal representation. The spouses and their attorneys then enter into an agreement to work together to resolve all of the issues of the divorce, including child custody, child support, spousal support, and property division questions. Using this process, your attorney, and other professionals (if needed) can manage the difficult conversations required to work through all legal issues. Collaborative divorce sometimes utilizes other professionals, such as financial planners to help deal with the financial aspects, and a divorce coach or mental health professional to assist in reducing stress and improving the productivity of the communication between spouses.
Understanding between sides and communicating each other’s needs is important in this process. Best of all, through collaborative divorce, you can keep the decision-making power in your own hands instead of giving that power to a judge who doesn’t even know you. When going through a divorce, oftentimes it feels like your lives are spiraling out of control, but the collaborative method gives you a degree of control over the divorce process and the final outcome. After all, you and your spouse know each other better than anyone else and being able to make the top decisions for each other and for your children is extremely important.
I helped introduce the benefits of collaborative divorce to Missouri in 2001. Since that time since, I have conducted numerous advanced trainings for other attorneys who wanted to learn more about the collaborative process and how their family law clients could be helped by it. I know the trials that people face when divorce is on the table, and I know the good that collaborative divorce can do for people. By keeping decision-making power in their own hands, the collaborative process is especially well-suited to divorces involving children as it helps parents work together. This can be incredibly important to the well-being of a child. While the parents may no longer be spouses to each other, they will always be parents to their children.
The collaborative process offers many benefits. I can help you use that process to secure the outcomes you need from your divorce. If you are in the Kansas City Metro Area and believe collaborative divorce is the best solution for you and your spouse, contact me today to schedule a consultation, or feel free to call me at (816) 533-5152 with any questions you have regarding your divorce and how I can best guide you through the process.