Collaborative Divorce: Is It Worth It?

Collaborative divorce is increasingly becoming a viable option for a large number of divorcees. Under this type of divorce, the intervention of a mediator (usually a family lawyer) is sought by both spouses. The mediator facilitates communication and negotiations between spouses, thus enabling them to reach an amicable divorce agreement. Collaborative divorce is preferred over the traditional courtroom divorce for a number of reasons. Here is why prospective divorcees should give collaborative divorce a second thought.

The Question Of Time

One of the main reasons for the ever-increasing popularity of collaborative divorce is that divorce proceedings are bound to come to a conclusion faster than they would with a court process. The reason for this is that a divorce court will handle several cases simultaneously, unlike the family lawyer who handles two or three divorce cases at a go. As such, family lawyers are able to dedicate more of their time to each case than the judge in a divorce court would. Anyone who has had the unfortunate experience of a divorce will agree that it is rather painful. As such, a faster conclusion of divorce proceedings is good for the emotional well-being of each spouse.

Collaborative Divorce And Child Welfare

A collaborative divorce is the best option for spouses concerned about the future welfare of their children and the psychological impact that the divorce will continue to have on them. Courtroom divorce proceedings often turn dramatic. Spouses usually end up airing their dirty linen in the courtroom, and they sometimes trade insults in full view of their children. The psychological impact of such scenarios continues to affect children long after the divorce. Collaborative divorce offers spouses the opportunity to engage in an environment that is less charged. With collaborative divorce, children can be afforded the opportunity to have their say on matters that affect them directly. This can be of great help to a child struggling to come to terms with the harsh reality at hand.

Control Over The Outcome Of Divorce Proceedings

Collaborative divorce proves worthwhile in terms of the amount of control that spouses are accorded over the outcome of divorce proceedings. The mediator in a collaborative divorce acts as a catalyst for communication and negotiations between spouses, without taking part or influencing the negotiations in any way. As such, all compromises, agreements, and solutions arrived at during the proceedings reflect the exact wishes of each spouse. This is different from court-based divorce proceedings where the presiding judge has the greatest control over the eventual outcome of divorce proceedings.

Collaborative divorce is a worthwhile alternative to court-based divorce proceedings. For more information, contact experienced lawyers in your area. 

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