Benefits of Collaborative Divorce

Create a Positive Experience

Parents swear, and child worriesTraditional divorce prioritizes the questions of what a spouse in a relationship is entitled to, according to the law. In contrast, Collaborative Divorce places why at the forefront of negotiations. Instead of focusing on entitlement, a Collaborative Divorce lawyers will focus on and determine why a couple is separating, what is best for the children and all family members, and what both spouses consider fair, as far as property and finances are concerned.

Collaborative Divorce or separation are conducted out of court, between the spouses and their respective lawyers, rather than between the spouses, lawyers, and a judge who makes the final decisions. If you’d like to remain in control of your divorce; have open discussions and come to agreements, rather than forced court order; and create less stress and anxiety for your children and yourself, consider Collaborative Divorce as an alternative to court proceedings.

More Experts, More Help

Building a relationship and a family takes time and commitment. Coming to an amicable separation agreement requires the same effort. Besides a lawyer, you, your children, and your spouse may need additional experts. Collaborative Divorce may include professional help from financial specialists, child specialists, divorce coaches, and counselors. As your lawyer, Rahul will pull from a range of resources to meet the emotional, financial, and physical needs of your family as you travel down the path of separation or divorce.

Collaborative Divorce considers:

One of the most beneficial aspects is that a child specialist can be brought so that children can address their feelings and concerns with a third party. As a licensed mental health professional, a child specialist can help the Collaborative Divorce team by being the children’s advocate and voice during kitchen table meetings. A child specialist can also assist with custody issues, like visitation and sharing schedules. You will need a child specialist who has experience with Collaborative Divorce.

An unbiased CPA, CFP, or CDFA, who has never had a relationship with either party in the divorce, can thoroughly review you and your spouse’s financial profile, including assets, risk, and cash flow. He or she will then make the most of the situation by proposing how the finances might be divided. In traditional divorce, both parties’ lawyers would battle over financial issues; in Collaborative Divorce, one expert gathers a complete evaluation, then presents options to help find a practical, agreed upon solution.

A Collaborative Divorce coach is a trained mental health professional who can assist you during divorce by providing a listening ear, counselling, and advice on how to remain emotionally healthy throughout the process. You and your spouse will not share a coach, but can each have one, if desired. The coach’s goal is to help you come through the divorce, ready and prepared to establish a new, productive, and happy life. Unlike traditional psychotherapy, coaching tends to pinpoint how to improve a situation, rather than what’s broken in a relationship.

 

Benefits:

Costs will include all professional services, plus the cost of the actual filing for divorce. You won’t have to fear contesting by your spouse with Collaborative Divorce, because you, your spouse, and both parties’ lawyers will negotiate and come to practical decisions on which both parties agree.

Every detail of your traditional, court-based divorce will become public record. If there is anything you do not want the public to know, whether related to extramarital relationships, health issues, or the actions of you and your spouse, you need to seriously consider Collaborative Divorce or mediation to protect your privacy.

You and your spouse will come to an agreement. Decisions won’t be made by a judge who only knows what your lawyers present. With traditional court-based divorce, you forfeit control over the process. Furthermore, if you and your spouse agree on the terms of your divorce or separation, you’re both likely to comply.

A traditional divorce can take one to three years, whereas mediation or Collaborative Divorce can take as little as a few months, and a year if the process runs long. You and your spouse control the pace of how the divorce progresses.

While emotions can certainly run high at kitchen-table meetings, when both spouses and lawyers agree to discuss and negotiate, divorce is less stressful. Conflict is minimized, and agreement is prioritized. Not only is this approach less stressful for the adults in the family, children also benefit seeing their parents agree, rather than conflict. Also, professionals are called in as needed to provide counseling, support, and guidance in financial and psychological matters.

 

Call Clean Divorce Today!

Want to discuss divorce or separation with an experienced family law lawyer? Have questions about mediation and Collaborative DivorceCALL NOW for a FREE 20 minute initial consultation. Rahul can answer all of your questions and equip you with the information you need to make wise decisions for your life, your children, and your finances.

Serving Vancouver, New Westminster, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, Surrey, and the rest of the Lower Mainland.