The idea of a peaceful divorce sounds like a contradiction in terms. Isn’t divorce about fighting to get your fair share?

While it often turns out that way, divorce doesn’t have to be a battle. The collaborative divorce process allows you to settle matters and resolve issues before they have the chance to turn to painful conflict. Collaborative divorce offers a peaceful means to dissolve a partnership.

How the Collaborative Divorce Process Works

In a traditional, adversarial divorce proceeding, each partner’s lawyer makes their best argument in court, trying to impress the judge and make the other partner look bad. Then the judge divides property, allocates parenting time, awards alimony, and makes other critical decisions about the future.

The collaborative process is about as different as you can get from that “win at all costs” mentality.

Each party’s attorney ensures that they understand their legal rights so they can make informed decisions. Then everyone works together to develop an agreement to settle all the outstanding issues. The result is a fair arrangement that meets legal requirements and allows each partner to have a say in the outcome.

Peace Plus Other Benefits

A collaborative divorce not only preserves your peace of mind but also more of your time and financial resources. The collaborative approach offers:

• Substantial savings on legal fees and court costs
• A faster resolution
• Confidential proceedings out of court
• Custom solutions developed for your unique needs
• A resolution-driven approach that preserves relationships

The benefits of a collaborative divorce affect not only you and your ex, but also your children, family members, and friends. Conflict has a ripple effect that can continue to build for years. When you prevent disputes from turning ugly, you can save your loved ones considerable anguish and heartache.

Will a Collaborative Divorce Work in Your Situation?

If collaborative divorce is so wonderful, why doesn’t everyone use it? To begin with, many divorce attorneys are not familiar with the strategies or trained in the techniques that make the collaborative process work. Because they are used to the adversarial model, it is easier—for them—to continue with this fighting approach to divorce. So, to succeed with the collaborative divorce process, both partners need to work with attorneys who are committed to this non-combative approach.

Just as importantly, both partners need to be committed to finding solutions. They need to be willing to share information openly and to concede some of their desires to reach compromises that serve the needs of the family. If one party wants to control the process, punish their ex, or feel like they’ve “won” the divorce, then a collaborative divorce can’t provide a fair solution for both parties.

Find out More About How Collaborative Divorce Could Work in Your Situation

At Schaffner Family Law, we see first-hand every day how collaborative divorce preserves peace in the family and lays the foundation for a bright future. We would love to talk to you about the process and help determine whether collaborative divorce is right for your situation. Contact us now for a confidential consultation.