Collaborative divorce

Collaborative divorce is a good solution for partners who want to handle their divorce with professional guidance and respect for each other and any children, without going through drawn-out legal proceedings. It is also an option for partners who are not married.

This is how collaborative divorce works

A team of professionals is put together to supervise your divorce. Lawyers, a coach (psychologist), a financial expert and possibly a children’s coach are all part of that team. Both partners meet with the team during meetings, where information is exchanged and bottlenecks, needs, and expectations are discussed. Reasonableness and transparency are expected from both partners.

The professionals on the team are always focused on finding solutions, even for those tricky issues that you can’t work out on your own. We know from experience that there is very little chance of still having to go through lengthy legal proceedings. Litigation is costly, slows things down and often causes a major breach of trust.

Difference between mediation and collaborative divorce

In mediation, you and your partner have the same mediator. In collaborative divorce, both partners have their own attorney. He or she is looking out for your interests, without fighting against the other partner. Both parties are equal. A coach/psychologist guides the emotional side of the divorce process and structures the meetings. The coach intervenes wherever necessary to make sure that conversations continue to maintain a reasonable tone. A financial expert is usually part of the team to ensure that the financial side is handled properly. If necessary, a children’s coach will be added to the team, which brings all of the expertise together.

Collaborative divorce is the only kind of divorce that uses a multidisciplinary team of professionals. Everyone has the same goal in mind: to help you and your partner divorce in a respectful and sustainable way.