The end of a marriage is a sensitive time for many people as it often means the end of a long-term relationship. This can create special challenges for couples going through the divorce process. Because each couple and family, and their circumstances, are different, different divorce process options are important to consider and one may be better over another depending on the situation. Along with divorce mediation, collaborative divorce is another option to consider.
Traditional divorce litigation can be costly and acrimonious so it is important to understand that the family law legal process provides different alternatives for divorcing couples to be aware of and understand. Collaborative divorce is one option for both heterosexual and same-sex couples to consider when contemplating divorce. Collaborative law divorce and divorce mediation work best in certain circumstances.
Collaborative law divorce can be a good option for couples who want to communicate using a respectful tone; want to prioritize the needs of any children involved in the divorce; are able to take the needs of their spouse or partner into consideration and objectively listen to those needs; have the ability to behave ethically towards one another; favor a creative and cooperative approach to solving issues and concerns; are able to look past divorce-related frustration and focus on a productive future following divorce; and wish to maintain control over the divorce process.
Whatever the needs of the divorcing couple and family are, the family law process provides resources to help them through the divorce process. It is important for divorcing couples to familiar with the different options available to them and understand the impact each can have towards creating a smoother divorce process.
Source: International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, “Will it work for me?” Accessed Feb. 1, 2014
