What is the goal of a collaborative divorce?

A collaborative divorce provides a great alternative to a litigated divorce, since it tends to be much less costly and much more amicable and pleasant. The goal of a collaborative divorce is to allow you and your spouse to come to an agreement on the issues that are necessary to dissolve your marriage. This means that you and your spouse will generally need to collaborate and agree on:

• The division of marital assets
• Issues of child support and spousal support, if any
• The division and separation of debts in the marriage
• Issues such as who will handle health care and how insurance will be dealt with, if provisions must be made
• Child custody agreements and visitation schedules

During a collaborative divorce you and your spouse, and often your respective attorneys, aim to work together to come to a fair agreement that satisfies all parties. An independent third party- often called a collaborative divorce coach- helps to facilitate this process and ensure open communication and compromise (although the third party doesn't have the authority to and usually won't force either party to do anything). 

If you are considering divorce, it is a good idea to talk to your attorney about whether a collaborative divorce may be a less expensive and more efficient option for you.