Collaborative divorce begins with a written agreement to settle matters outside of court. It ends when spouses have clear agreements on their major divorce issues. The duration of collaborative divorce proceedings can vary drastically from one case to the next.
Spouses can sometimes settle their disagreements in a few weeks. Other times, negotiations may drag on for a year or longer. Particularly in scenarios involving intense disputes between spouses, working with outside professionals can help expedite the collaborative divorce process.
How can professionals, other than the attorneys representing the spouses at issue, influence collaborative divorce?
By providing objective perspectives
Divorcing spouses have their own priorities and emotional reactions to household circumstances. They cannot be neutral, and their attorneys usually are not totally objective either. Their lawyers have a fiduciary duty to act in their best interests, not necessarily to be moral or objective. As such, conflict can escalate despite attempts to collaborate during divorce.
Outside parties can help diminish conflict and generate workable compromises for the spouses. Mediators are often helpful during collaborative divorce. They can facilitate calm communication and help spouses settle their disagreements.
Parenting coordinators can be beneficial for the family. Their insight can help parents set custody terms that truly prioritize what is best for the children. Financial advisors can also be helpful. They can look at the history of the household’s finances during the marriage to decide what is fair and reasonable when dividing property or setting support amounts.
Ideally, the input of these outside professionals can help settle disputes. Learning more about collaborative divorce and the divorce process in general can help people make the best decisions as they prepare to navigate a life-changing legal matter.