What is the difference between Collaborative Practice and traditional adversarial divorce?
A key difference between Collaborative Practice and traditional divorce is the pledge to reach an agreement without going to court. Spouses going through a conventional divorce often become adversarial, and can end up in court. The ensuing conflicts can take an immense toll on all the participants, especially the children. In a collaborative divorce, the spouses and their lawyers pledge in writing not to go to court. The separating couple meet with their lawyers and any other professionals they choose to involve in a series of meetings to work out an agreement. While each case is different, several meetings may be all that is needed to come to an equitable agreement. The Collaborative approach allows separating couples to put child support and parenting agreements in place without having to wait months or years for a court ruling. The cooperative nature of Collaborative Practice can greatly ease the emotional strain caused by the break-up of a relationship, and protect the well-being o
