The Collaborative Divorce

The Collaborative Process provides a positive path forward, a proven process for moving past conflicts toward resolution.

A Collaborative approach to separation and divorce offers a more effective and less adversarial alternative. With the Collaborative Process, you and your partner commit to:

Avoiding litigation and the courtroom entirely
Treating each other with respect and open communication

Full disclosure of relevant information and documents
Working to understand each other’s concerns and needs
Making a genuine effort to address each other’s needs and concerns
Collaboratively working towards an agreement that benefits both parties and the family
You don’t need to be amicable to use a Collaborative approach!

In family law, the principle is to treat both parties to a separation equally. Whether parties opt for a collaborative or traditional approach, the family’s finances are typically divided according to legal guidelines. However, in traditional litigation, the associated non-financial and financial costs often leave both parties feeling like they have lost.

Both Spouses Are Integral Team Members

In the Collaborative Process, both spouses are integral team members. They join the team on equal footing and offer the professionals the necessary information to assist in shaping a more favourable outcome for themselves and their families after separation.

FIND A PROFESSIONAL

The Collaborative Process

Families are complex, and relying on a traditional separation process involving a judge, who may not fully understand your family’s unique needs, isn’t the most suitable approach for making decisions that will shape your and your family’s future.

The Collaborative Process uses a team of professionals with the right skills and experience to help families transition to a better future. Below are the professionals who are a part of your team.

Family Lawyers

In family law, the principle is to treat both parties to a separation equally. Whether parties opt for a collaborative or traditional approach, the family's finances are typically divided according to legal guidelines. However, in traditional litigation, the associated non-financial and financial costs often leave both parties feeling like they have lost.

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Divorce and Parenting Coaches

These coaches assist individuals and families in navigating the separation process by offering emotional support, effective communication strategies, and valuable parenting guidance. Leveraging their mental health expertise alongside their collaborative training, these coaches aid spouses and families in establishing communication protocols and co-parenting plans that prioritize the well-being of everyone involved.

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Financial Specialists

Play a crucial role in helping individuals and families secure a stable financial future. They address often overlooked aspects, such as tax efficiency and future cash flows of all parties, by working with both spouses to plan for their future. In the traditional approach to separation, no financial planning is done.

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Child Specialists

Engage in one-on-one meetings with your children, providing a secure environment for them to express their feelings and concerns. These specialists play a vital role in ensuring that the collaborative team maintains a focus on the children's best interests. In contrast, in the traditional approach to separation, children's voices often go unheard, leading to a less favourable outcome for the entire family.

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Why use the Collaborative Process?

Couples who have decided to separate often find themselves in a state of impasse, unable to envision a way forward. Communication may have broken down, and discussions about finances seem impossible. The Collaborative Process uniquely focuses on helping parties acquire new and improved communication skills that can be applied in the future. Individuals may also engage in financial planning for the first time in this process.

It’s common to procrastinate, and few people get around to financial planning. Many clients who have navigated the Collaborative Process discover more effective ways to handle conflicts and create their first financial plans. As a result, they often realize they have more control over their lives and future than they initially thought.

The Collaborative Process is transformative and can propel individuals and families toward a brighter, more promising future.

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Good For Couples

The Collaborative Process is a good option for couples:

Regardless of their sexual orientation or gender
Legally married or common-law
Who are parents or childless
Regardless of ethnicity, race, or religion

Collaborative divorce can work for most couples if they can drop their adversarial notions of divorce. What’s most important is that both spouses commit to resolving issues together with the support of the collaborative team.

If the spouses and lawyers are committed to cooperating with the entire team, a collaborative approach can save time and money and make it easier to start over again after your divorce.

Find A Professional

begin the Collaborative Process by contacting any of our Collaborative Professionals. They will explain how the Collaborative Process works and help you assemble your team of caring professionals.