Unfortunately, not all married couples live happily ever after. Nearly
50% of marriages end in
divorce in the United States, with many of them resulting in heated legal battles
over the distribution of property and
custody agreements. While divorce can be a contentious affair, some are handled
much more amicably. When divorcing couples aren’t as combative over
the division of their assets and simply need guidance, a
collaborative divorce can be accomplished.
A collaborative divorce is a process where you and your spouse establish
a mutually satisfactory divorce agreement with the help of legal professionals.
The purpose of a collaborative divorce is to avoid the need for court
involvement and keep costs low. To begin, both spouses must sign a participation
agreement that states that certain collaborative efforts must be followed.
Unlike
mediation, each spouse hires a separate attorney to help them negotiate and both
parties meet regularly to discuss the terms of their separation. In addition,
other types of professionals such as custody specialists and financial
advisors can be involved to help settle the case without the need for
lenghty and tense litigation.
With a collaborative divorce, you can:
- Avoid expensive and lengthy legal procedures
- Form a temporary agreement and stabilize the situation
- Reduce animosity between you and your spouse
The entire process is confidential, and both spouses are given legal recommendations
on how to smoothly reach an agreement while retaining advocacy for their
own respective interests. In the event that a collaborative divorce is
unsuccessful, the collaborative participation agreement is terminated
and the legal advisors are prohibited from representing their clients
in court. New legal counsel must be sought if the divorce escalates toward
courtroom litigation.
Our Riverside Divorce Attorneys Can Help
If you are currently in the early stages of a divorce, it is highly recommended
that you seek to have an uncontested divorce to make things easier on
yourself. At Hanson, Gorian, Bradford & Hanich, we can provide you
with exceptional legal representation for your collaborative divorce and
help you determine a set of mutually acceptable terms.
Contact us today at (951) 687-6003 to discuss your situation in further detail.