If you and your spouse are willing to work together and come to a resolution utilizing negotiation, a collaborative divorce may be right for you. A collaborative divorce can help you avoid the pitfalls of litigation, saving you a significant amount of time and money. If you are considering a divorce, it’s in your best interest to retain the legal services of a determined Suffolk County Collaborative Divorce Attorney who can help you make informed decisions regarding the dissolution of your marriage. Please continue reading to learn who is involved in a collaborative divorce team.
What is a Collaborative Divorce?
A collaborative divorce is an alternative dispute resolution method that prioritizes cooperation to achieve a better divorce outcome for both you and your spouse. This approach involves experienced divorce attorneys and a team of collaboratively trained professionals who will work with you to settle marital issues, like child custody and child support, alimony, and property division, allowing you to keep your divorce out of the courtroom.
Generally, those involved include child specialists, financial professionals, mental health practitioners, counselors, and legal professionals. One of the primary benefits of this process is that specialists will be available whenever you need them. The parties will meet as often as necessary to discuss and resolve the critical issues of the divorce. It’s important to note that if either party is unwilling to participate, this divorce process won’t be successful.
What Professionals Are Involved?
One of the unique aspects of a collaborative divorce is being able to work with a team of professionals. Typically, each spouse will retain their own attorney. Unlike traditional divorce, collaborative divorce attorneys are dedicated to finding mutually beneficial solutions rather than “winning” at all costs. In some cases, financial experts will be brought in to gather and analyze financial information from both parties, develop options for dividing assets and debts, provide tax implications of various settlement options, assist in creating budgets for post-divorce life, and more.
When children are involved, it’s common for child specialists to join the team as they can act as the voice of the children in the process to ensure their best interests are prioritized and met. These professionals can help parents understand their children’s needs and assist in creating a parenting plan. Ultimately, various professionals can be brought in during this divorce process.
Whether this divorce process is right for you will depend on the unique circumstances of your situation, including the willingness of each party to negotiate and the ability to work together. If you are considering a collaborative divorce in New York, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced attorney from the Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C., who can represent your rights and best interests.
