FAQs

• What is Collaborative Divorce?
• Why Do We Need a Team?

Since it is well known that divorce can cause extreme distress, divorcing people need to be well informed about the option for a Collaborative Divorce. The Collaborative Divorce millieu provides a system of multi-dimensional support for the divorcing couple and their family, addressing the emotional, financial and legal aspects of divorce. By having an interdisciplinary team of professionals working together with the couple (and their children) to support and educate them, this pivotal life event is approached reverently and resourcefully. The team setting provides a climate of safety and hope by utilizing transparency, constructive communication, information and support so the couple can make fully informed decisions about their future.

A Collaborative Divorce Team consists of the divorcing couple, a Collaborative Lawyer and a Collaborative Divorce Coach for each, one neutral Financial Specialist and a Child Specialist who represents the voice of the child(ren), all selected by the couple at the inception of the case. The case commences once the full team has been selected and retained; a meeting is then scheduled to sign the Collaborative Commitment Agreement, calendar all meetings and begin the process.

Divorce is a complex process consisting of emotional challenges, financial concerns and legal questions that need to be answered. Opportunities to address these different divorce dimensions are essential for the healthy transition of the family, minimizing the negative impact frequently associated with divorce. Hiring a team gives the couple and their family the appropriate resources to address each of these important areas. Each professional brings their expertise to the couple and to the other professionals within the team, sharing information transparently to promote a truly respectful and gentle evolution from a one household to a two household family system. 

Sometimes couples contemplate a Collaborative Divorce without the benefit of a full team. They think they are saving money in so doing; however, we have found definitively that couples, who do not experience the benefit of a full team, do not enjoy the closure, resolve, and hope of those who choose a full-team approach. Imagine baking bread without the key ingredients, it will fall flat and be impossible to digest.

It is the honor and privilege of the professional team to work with divorcing couples who choose and commit to a Collaborative Divorce, seeking to create peaceful solutions for their future.