The basic idea behind collaborative divorce is that couples work together to end their marriage in a way that works for them both. They use collaborative divorce lawyers to guide them in this process, but if it is unsuccessful, they must hire new lawyers to take the matter to family court.
Collaborative divorce works in a similar way to mediation. It relies on both partners entering into the discussions in good faith and realizing that a fair (and legally-acceptable) solution has to work for both parties insofar as possible. In particular, both parties need to be prepared to disclose their financial assets and to be realistic about how much of them they will be able to keep.
The main difference between collaborative divorce and mediation is that the collaborative divorce process involves lawyers from the outset. In mediation, the mediator can help a divorcing couple to lay down the framework of an agreement, which can then be handed to lawyers to be transposed into legal terms. Mediators themselves, however, do not get involved in drawing up legal documents.
In short, the collaborative divorce process can be both less stressful and less expensive than the traditional divorce process which can become very adversarial and end up focusing on apportioning blame rather than finding ways forward.
If you’re interested in collaborative divorce, you will need a lawyer who specializes in the area. The best way to find one is to look at Lawyer match. Lawyer match has a carefully-selected list of collaborative divorce lawyers in the Toronto, VA area, so you’re sure to find one who is just right for your situation.
