Facing a divorce is never easy, but you can make the process much more inviting by opting for a collaborative divorce. The traditional idea of divorce is fighting it out in a Pennsylvania court. You imagine arguing with your spouse over assets and the children, but it does not have to be that way. Collaborative divorce, as the American Bar Association defines it, is when you end your marriage outside a courtroom through working together.
The whole goal is to stay out of court. You sign an agreement that says you will commit to negotiating and settling differences without arguments or hostility. You agree that you will not take the matter to court. If for some reason you decide that you must go to court, your lawyer will no longer represent you because you hire him or her only for the collaborative process.
Differences
Alternative dispute resolutions in Philadelphia family law are nothing new, and collaborative law is a type of ARD. However, it is different from mediation or arbitration because the attorneys still represent each of you. They do not act as a third-party who oversees the process. Furthermore, if the process fails, the lawyers also lose out because they no longer represent you or your spouse.
Benefits
This type of divorce gives you a lot of control over ending your marriage. It also provides an incentive to put aside the feelings and focus on the process. This alone is a huge benefit because it is feelings that often get in the way of successful negotiations. It can also help you to finalize the divorce faster and for a less-expensive cost than traditional divorce.
Ending your marriage is not an easy thing, but there is no reason that it has to involve yelling and fighting. Working together to end things can be so much better for everyone in the long run.