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Since it is less confrontational and more about working together, the Collaborative Process allows each spouse to focus on getting a fresh start. Instead of planning tactics to get the most out of your spouse, you can plan for your children’s future needs and make a smooth transition to the next stage of your life.

Each divorce procedure is different but, for the most part, a Collaborative Divorce is faster. It is a more direct process and you don’t have to wait for the court to catch up. You and your spouse can set the pace and get it done as quickly or as slowly as you need.

In conventional divorce the two parties generally regard themselves as adversaries, because this is the way the process is set up. The case goes to court, which triggers a set of legal steps you must follow. The ensuing conflict escalates any negative feelings you may have had and ratchets up the stress levels. A Collaborative Divorce is all about working together toward the conclusion you and your spouse need. There is very little conflict so you have less stress and a higher probability of maintaining an amicable relationship after the divorce is over.

It usually follows this pattern:

1. Each party hires a lawyer trained in Collaborative Divorce
2. Everyone involved signs an agreement that says they won’t go to court
3. The spouses meet with each other together with the lawyers, as well as with their lawyers individually
4. Additional experts are brought in to assist with specific issues
5. Both parties work together to solve their dispute and reach a mutual understanding

The interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Model is a multi-disciplinary team approach to dispute resolution (usually separation and divorce), which includes attorneys, coaches, a financial specialist, and when there are minor children, a child specialist, working interactively as co-equals. Professionals on the team all subscribe to the same core values and shared beliefs, consistent with the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) ethical guidelines, which state that none of the team members will be involved in any court process concerning a shared case, and that all members will withdraw from the case if it becomes a court process.

This integrated model provides the couple with the services they need from the professional that is most qualified to address each complex issue involved in a divorce. Working together, these Collaborative professionals help divorcing couples achieve an outcome that would not be possible without this cooperative team involvement.

When a couple starts a Collaborative Divorce, they pick a number of experts to help them through the process. The team generally consists of 2 lawyers, 2 Divorce Coaches, 1 Child Specialist and 1 neutral Financial Specialist. They assist the couple in the following ways:

• The attorneys will assist the couple in negotiating a mutually beneficial agreement and file the necessary paperwork when the process has concluded.
• The Divorce Coaches help the couple develop the negotiating and self-management skills they will need to make the process a success.
• The Child Specialist acts as the children’s voice in the process and helps the parents look out for the children’s needs.
• The Financial Specialist assists in gathering the crucial financial documentation and helps the couple to gauge what kind of financial repercussions their decisions may have.

Collaborative Divorce, Collaborative Law and Collaborative Process are terms often used interchangeably. However, they are all a part of Collaborative Practice. Collaborative Practice includes three key components:

1. A free exchange of information
2. A pledge not to litigate
3. A commitment to finding a mutually beneficial resolution

In Mediation there is an impartial third party helping to reach a resolution and they cannot give legal advice. In a Collaborative Divorce each party has their attorney with them to act as their advocate and help them push through any problems. They are not there as adversaries though; they are there to work together in reaching a satisfactory conclusion. The lawyers can then draft the settlement terms and let everyone look them over to ensure both parties are satisfied.

Generally, collaborative practice is a non-litigated, non-adversarial way to resolve disputes respectfully.  It is most often used for resolving divorce, custody, and other family law issues but is increasingly used in other areas, such as business disputes and probate.  In a collaborative case, the parties work with a team of professionals, including lawyers, mental health professionals, and financial neutrals, to resolve their issues without resorting to litigation.  This is why collaborative practice is sometimes referred to as “no court divorce.”

Each case is different.  Your case is unlike any other case: it has unique people, personalities, facts, and circumstances.  A collaborative team works with you and your partner to help you find solutions that are right for your family.  Each member of the collaborative team has specific expertise and insights that help you achieve your goals.

Some lawyers will take a collaborative case using only some of the team members.  In our experience, clients ultimately see better results when they use an entire team.  This is called a “full team” case.  Because each collaborative case is different, you may not use certain members of the team very much.  Some people only have one meeting with a team member and never need them again.   That’s ok.  But it’s better to have a team member in place, just in case you need them.  If a problem arises in the case and if a team member is not already in place, it could take weeks or months to bring the new team member into the case and bring them up to speed.

In our practice I only take full team cases because a full team is better prepared to handle any problems that might come up.

The clients.   The most important team members are the clients.  The clients agree to do the following:

• work as a part of the team to develop various options for solutions to problems; and
• addresses issues they may have with the process directly with the team.

Collaborative coaches.  Collaborative coaches are mental health professionals; however, they do not practice therapy in a collaborative case.  Instead, they help clients communicate so that they can move through the process most efficiently, and they help clients put together their parenting plan.  Collaborative coaches

• help clients clarify their concerns;
• help clients manage their emotions;
• help clients develop effective communication skills and reinforce those skills; and
• help clients develop effective co-parenting skills and formulate a parenting plan.

Child specialist.  The child specialist acts as the voice for the children in the divorce.  Specifically, the child specialist

• listens to each child;
• sensitizes parents to the needs of each child in the context of the divorce; and
• gives information to  parents and  the coaching team to assist in developing an effective co-parenting plan.

Financial Specialist.  The financial specialist gathers and analyzes the financial data provided by the parties.  The financial specialist, with the attorneys, helps the couple explore their financial options and decide on the best plan for their family.  As part of this process, the financial specialist

• gathers financial data
• develops different financial scenarios for clients to evaluate; and
• provides financial guidance, planning, support and budgeting throughout the divorce process.

Collaborative attorneys.  Collaborative attorneys help the clients evaluate options and advise clients on the legal implications of each option, draft the necessary legal documents, and shepherd the case through the court system to obtain a Final Judgment.  Specifically the attorneys

•  assist clients in gathering and analyzing information;
•  help clients examine needs and interests to develop settlement options and packages;
•  help clients evaluate consequences and limitations of possible solutions;
•  help clients re-sort values and interests in relation to settlement options being developed and presented; and
• sset the framework for negotiation.

The cost of each case depends on many factors, including the complexity of the facts, the size of the marital estate, how well the parties are able to work together, whether the kids have any special needs, and any mental health issues that might need to be addressed.  Even so, a collaborative case is not as expensive as you might think.  Remember, you will be paying experts to perform their functions on the team.  That means they’ll probably be very efficient, and you will be getting more value for the money you spend.

In a traditionally-litigated case, each side typically spends a great deal of time and money trying to get documents and witness testimony from the other side so that they can prepare their case for trial.  This can be the most expensive part of litigation, often costing tens of thousands of dollars.  In a collaborative case, both sides agree that the process will be transparent, and that each side will turn over all necessary documents and information.  Working with each other, instead of against each other, often turns out to be much less expensive than in litigated divorces.

First, you need to meet with a collaboratively trained lawyer.  A collaborative case cannot proceed without two lawyers who both have received special training in collaborative practice.  For information on which lawyers have been collaboratively trained, go to the collaborative practice group or website in your state.  In Georgia, you can see if a lawyer has been collaboratively trained by visiting the website for the Collaborative Law Institute of Georgia, www.collaborativepracticega.com

Once you and your partner have both retained collaborative attorneys, they will schedule a “Four-Way Meeting” to discuss your case and sign the necessary paperwork for a collaborative case.  At that time the lawyers will help you put together a collaborative team.  You’ll be given “homework” to do and your lawyers will help you start moving forward with your case.

Your case will then proceed in a series of meetings with the various professionals in which you will discuss, brainstorm, and negotiate a settlement of all issues related to the divorce.

It’s important to understand that collaborative divorce is not for everyone.  You have to be willing to work hard, to treat them with respect, to be honest, and to play fair.  And your most important priority has to be your kids.  Frankly, not everyone can successfully complete a collaborative case.  But if you want to dance at your daughter’s wedding, to be in the same room at your son’s graduation, or to see your grandchildren without worrying whether your ex-spouse will show up unexpectedly and ruin the day, this is the process for you.  If you want your kids to be able to invite both of you to the school play, collaborative divorce is the process for you.