Q. What is a collaborative divorce and how to opt for it?
Answer:
While getting a divorce, couples have to go through a certain level of challenges and frustrations. A difficult divorce can be costly which includes courtroom fees and other legal expenses. When couples approach a collaborative divorce, it benefits the whole family by settling it peacefully reducing the level of emotional and financial stress.
Collaborative Divorce is a dispute resolution process that is a good alternative for couples who want to settle their divorce mutually outside the courtroom by hiring a specially trained collaborative divorce lawyer, who guides them in negotiating a settlement agreement. It also helps the divorcing couple in preserving their relationship with the children even after the divorce.
Some benefits of appointing a Collaborative Divorce Lawyer are as follows:
• Mutual agreement between divorcing spouses.
• All meetings are private and confidential.
• Helps in preserving relationships.
• Promotes effective communication.
The steps to go for a Collaborative Divorce are as follows:
1. The divorcing couple has to mutually ensure that both the parties are willing to negotiate and work together in the collaborative process.
2. Each spouse has to hire a collaborative divorce lawyer who can help them in settling their divorce.
3. Meet your lawyer privately to discuss the divorce and the related topics like division of assets and debt, child custody & support, and visitation rights.
4. Assemble your collaborative divorce team with your lawyer, including a divorce coach, financial specialist, and child specialist which help in settling the divorce with the best options.
5. Then met with your spouse and your spouse’s lawyer for subsequent meetings with full disclosure of information between both parties to resolve the dispute and attain a mutual settlement in the divorce.
6. Once you and your spouse have negotiated the terms of your divorce, your lawyers will draft a settlement agreement for both parties to sign. Be careful not to sign the document unless you agree to each of the divorce terms. If the judgment is fair and reasonable to both spouses, the judge will sign it, and it will become your final judgment of divorce.
If you are looking for an experienced Collaborative Divorce Lawyer in New Jersey, then you must connect now for a free consultation that will help you in settling divorces peacefully.