In a collaborative divorce, the parties each retain an attorney and work together to create an agreement that meets the family’s needs. There is no third-party mediator or arbitrator. The process starts with an agreement to collaborate in good faith. Parties agree that if the collaborative process is abandoned, they must retain new attorneys in order to move forward with litigation.
The collaborative law process often incorporates other neutral professionals. Child specialists and financial advisors are frequently brought into the collaborative divorce process to aid the parties. The professionals you incorporate will depend on the issues you are working through in your case. For example, if you and your spouse own a business together, you may want to bring in a business valuation specialist.
There are several potential benefits of using a collaborative approach. Parties can obtain a divorce without going to trial. They can also have more control over both the process and the outcome. After all, you and your spouse are in the best position to understand your family’s needs and ensure that your settlement agreement reflects them.
Bethany G. Shechtel, Esq. is trained and certified in collaborative law, and she has been by her clients’ side, guiding them through the divorce process for years. To learn more about collaborative divorce and to see if it may be right for you, contact BGS Law, LLC today.