Your Family Law Advocate Blog

For most people, "divorce" is an ugly word that immediately brings to mind tedious courtroom battles and lengthy legal disputes. The fact is that no matter how you slice it, divorce is never an easy thing to go through, but it does not always have to be a battle.

Collaborative Divorce (CD) is an alternative to a traditional divorce that allows spouses to resolve their split outside of the courtroom through a structured, team-based process. Instead of each going before a judge and asking to make decisions about finances, parenting arrangements, and other important family matters, both parties work together with collaboratively trained attorneys to reach mutually acceptable solutions. 

A primary CD benefit is it gives families greater control over the outcome while maintaining privacy and encouraging respectful problem-solving. With discussions outside of court, couples often have more flexibility to customize their own parenting plans and financial arrangements. The process can also preserve important relationships, particularly when children are involved and ongoing co-parenting must continue. 

While CD is not for every situation, particularly where there are concerns about safety, domestic violence, or a lack of financial transparency, it can provide a constructive and less adversarial path for couples who are committed to working toward a resolution together.

Business and divorce attorneys, Marcy Hahn and Lisa Serra, recently discussed the Collaborative Divorce process on Foster Swift's 2nd Wednesday virtual series. Watch the full discussion below to discover how Collaborative Divorce works, who benefits most from the process, and the key considerations that can help families make informed decisions during one of life's most important transitions.