Collaborative Divorce

[mrgorth]

In my (personal) counseling session last week my counselor mentioned a new process called collaborative divorce. The idea of the process is a happy medium between regular divorce and mediation. It provides the feeling of security from having your own lawyer without the actual threat of litigation. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this. Here is a writeup from the www.

Collaborative Divorce, a new form of dispute resolution, is now available in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is an integrated, cross-disciplinary approach to solving divorce, property division, and support and custody problems.

The essence of the process is a contractual commitment of the parties, their lawyers and other professionals not to litigate, and to provide full disclosure of assets and income. If no agreement is reached, and either party institutes litigation both attorneys must resign.

The team of professional includes experienced domestic relations lawyers and coach / therapists for each party, a single mutually selected neutral financial advisor, and if needed, a child specialist. All of these professionals are trained in collaborative divorce.

The collaborative divorce model differs from mediation and other forms of dispute resolution in the contractual commitment not to litigate and the availability and support of the cross-disciplinary team.

The process focuses on reducing conflict between the participants enabling them to engage in an open, honest process to end their marriage, resolve their family-related conflicts, and support their children's welfare.

The goals of Collaborative Divorce, simply state are:

Managing a cost-effective alternative to litigation.
Professionals working together to facilitate the family-based process of divorce.
Promoting the best interests of the children.
Implementing fair, practical economic and logistical solutions to family law problems.
Utilizing a team approach of experienced family law practitioners, mental health professionals, and financial advisors.