Divorce on a Dime: Part I

In general, there are four main methods that can be used to obtain a divorce:  Collaborative Law, Traditional Divorce via Litigation, Pre-Suit Mediation, and “Kitchen Table” Negotiations.

Collaborative Law is a relatively new type of Family Law which first began to be utilized in the U.S. in the 1980s.  Collaborative Law has quickly grown in popularity and recently became more organized in the Central Florida area.

Collaborative Law is a process in which the parties and a team of professionals, including collaboratively trained lawyers representing each party, analyzing the best outcome for the entire family in a team-like process.

The professional team generally includes, but is not limited to, a neutral mental health expert (“coach”), a neutral financial specialist, and two attorneys representing the respective parties.  The collaborative law divorce process is especially helpful in situations where children are involved, as it helps develop better cooperation and ultimately better relationships for everyone involved.  It is also financially beneficial because it may help limit the extensive cost associated with a traditional divorce through the overcrowded court system.

Collaborative Law has been described as a form of divorce which incorporates respect, allows for more control to the clients, provides lower stress overall, and utilizes creative problem solving skills.  However, Collaborative Law may not be for everyone, particularly for cases involving domestic violence, mental abuse, mental illness, drug abuse, and other similar scenarios.