For some people, going through an expensive and time-consuming divorce in court is not worth it. This is why Neal Ashmore finds alternative methods for clients that will save them anguish, time, and money outside of the courts. If you and your spouse are interested in a less adversarial, collective approach to divorce, consider the collaborative law model.
Through the collaborative law model, divorcing spouses work with a team of neutral professionals to civilly resolve the issues in their divorce. The team usually includes two attorneys, a mental health professional, and a financial expert and may include appraisers, accountants, child specialists, therapists and others. All professionals work for the benefit of both parties.
Collaborative family law has many benefits, including:
- You control the results: At the end of a trial, a judge will weigh the evidence and make a decision based on his or her interpretation of the case. In collaborative law, you and your spouse have that decision-making power. The neutral professionals can help you understand the consequences and benefits to each decision that you make so that you can arrive at a fully informed agreement on all issues involved in the divorce.
- Open communication: Litigation is often adversarial. In collaborative divorce, parties maintain open communication and understand the other party’s goals.
- Maintaining relationships: Divorce may not be the end of your relationship with your spouse. If children are involved, you will need to work with your spouse for years to come. Collaborative divorce helps divorcing spouses develop and maintain a civil, working relationship.
- Less formal: The collaborative law process is usually less formal and can be quicker than the traditional family court system, saving you time, energy and money.
Collaborative law may be especially useful if you have children and seek to minimize disruption to your children’s family life as you transition from married to divorced. This process offers a way to shield your children from harmful litigation while letting their best interests guide your decisions.
Yet, not all clients are candidates for collaborative divorce. When this occurs, our goals it to look after your best interests. At our law firm, we have the full range of family law attorneys: mediators, collaborative law divorce attorneys, and fierce litigators. Whatever your divorce requires, we can help you.
If you choose to try collaborative divorce and the process turns sour, litigation is still an option. However, the collaborative law process includes an agreement that your attorney will help you and your spouse come to an agreement. Should this happen, your collaborative divorce lawyer will not be able to represent you in court. If this should occur, we can refer you to other family lawyers to litigate your case.
