Collaborative Family Law: A Way to Kinder, Gentler Divorce?

While it cannot be said of everyone, most couples don't look forward to ending their marriage in a courtroom. Many just wish there was a way to handle things on their own. Fortunately, there is an option in family law for Denver couples that are seeking an alternative form of resolution outside of the courtroom.

In collaborative divorce proceedings, both parties work out the details of their divorce together with the assistance of lawyers, counselors, and a financial advisor. There is no judge present. If the couple runs into problems determining what may be best or gets snagged on a particularly sensitive issue, there is a group of professionals available to assist the family in making a call that will suit the best interests of all those involved.

Rather than having someone tell you exactly what you ought to do, the group of specialists helps the divorcing couple understand the benefits and the consequences of the decisions they face. Ultimately, collaborative divorce allows for both parties to get through the dissolution process while keeping lines of communication open, or perhaps building them where they didn't exist before. Many experts hold the opinion that couples who commit to collaborative divorce proceedings tend to end up in a better situation overall.

Across the United States, there are approximately 10,000 licensed collaborative divorce professionals. With the variety of family law issues that can come into play, getting through a divorce is often difficult. In cases where leveler heads long to prevail, it seems to make sense to consider turning to collaborative divorce as a possible way to get through the process in a more amicable way.

Source: WVLA-TV, "Working together to break up; a look at the collaborative divorce trend," Alex Deiro, Oct. 31, 2012

Tags: alternative dispute resolution, collaborative law, divorce, divorce mediation, family law