A collaborative divorce involves the use of personal representatives to make negotiations about the specifics of divorce itself. It works well for many couples, especially those who want to avoid going to court.
But does it work for everyone? You may want to look into the specifics before making a final decision.
Defining collaboration
Cornell Law School discusses the merits of collaborative divorce. Collaborative divorce allows a couple to bypass taking their divorce case to court. This can save you an enormous amount of time, money and effort. It also protects your privacy, because court case records are public knowledge that anyone can look through at any point in time.
Generally speaking, you will find this option works best if you already have a level of agreement with your spouse. It also helps if you have the ability to work together. This does not mean you have to be friends or have an amicable relationship. It simply means you can put aside your differences to have serious discussions about how you want your divorce to go, and that you have the ability to make concessions and compromises where necessary.
Dealing with arguments
Of course, arguments may still happen along the way. The personal representatives can help with some of this. If they think your arguments are too frequent or intense, they may request that you hire a mediator to help you get through the process.
If you think you can get through a discussion about important matters like custody, alimony and the division of assets with a little extra help, then collaborative divorce might suit you well.
