More and more couples are choosing collaborative divorce. Collaborative divorce entails the use of collaboratively trained attorneys who sign a participation agreement and commit, along with you and your spouse, never to go to trial with theses attorneys. These lawyers will never depose you or cross-examine you. You and your spouse promise to negotiate in good faith and with full financial disclosure. The lawyers promise to advocate in a constructive manner to help negotiate a win/win settlement. The lawyers and clients agree to generate creative solutions to difficult problems so both you and your spouse are financially secure and have healthy post divorce relationships with your children. It is, in some places, described as the “good divorce.” Collaborative divorce, even in the most emotionally charged or financially complex cases.

In collaborative we also use collaboratively trained experts such as certified divorce financial planners and business valuators to help develop budgets and support plans and to maximize tax savings and resources. We also use mental health professional as coaches. They are experts in child development and will help structure parenting plans. The coaches can also assist clients through the emotional roadblocks that interfere with productive negotiation. In collaborative, you are part of a team to efficiently and effectively develop a settlement that is will work in for the long term for you and your family.

The costs of collaborative are similar to mediation. If a full team is used, some of the costs are paid up front and at first seem high, but in fact, long-term, the overall costs are lower. The hourly cost of coaches is lower than attorneys so you save money using coaches to develop parenting plans. The cost of a financial neutral is usually shared and since there is only one financial neutral the cost is lower than litigation. This is because in litigation there are two lawyers and possibly two financial experts gathering the same information, through subpoenas or depositions, that the single financial neutral does in collaborative. Overall, the cost of straightforward cases is the same as traditional mediation or negotiation. The cost of highly complex divorces or custody cases is substantially less than litigation.

Continue to litigation.