Not all divorces are peaceful.  A collaborative divorce may be contentious, but not in the same way as a traditional, court-oriented divorce.   In a “regular” divorce, you have no rules for behavior. You can sling mud, bash your spouse in front of the kids, and try to get as much money and/or property out of your partner as possible. The court is in control of everything, and your attorneys do battle in a courtroom. Your family and friends may “take sides” with you or your partner or spouse.

Knowing there is another option, why would you choose a traditional divorce? Yes, you have to work hard with a collaborative divorce. You will work very hard to spare your children from pain.  You’ll work hard to maintain a positive outlook on what the future will be for you and your family. With a collaborative divorce, you will work for what’s best for everyone, including yourself. And when you and your spouse are in conflict, it can take hard work not to sling mud or bash your “no-longer better” half.

When You Need Collaborative Professionals

A collaborative divorce offers better options, and if you’re having difficulty in one or more areas of your divorce, a professional can work with you and your partner to help you find a fix that works for everyone. For example, settling financial commitments and dividing assets can get sticky.  Feelings often get in the way of logic during a divorce.

Collaborative professionals can help make your lifestyle transition easier.

Financial Neutral Collaborative Professionals

It may not always be viable and there are many factors involved in divorce and money matters, however… In a collaborative divorce – when possible – you share the same financial neutral professional. This neutral professional gets an overview of the complete financial situation and offers advice for best possible outcomes for both of you.

A collaborative divorce can save money, so you’re already off to a financially beneficial start to living separate lives. Some of the services or tips your financial neutral professional may offer include:

• Assessing your shared financial liabilities
• Assessing your shared financial values
• Helping you check your credit rating before the divorce is final.
• Timing the close all joint accounts; banks, credit cards, all shared accounts you have
• Helping you develop a new budget
• Identifying a list of properties or items of value that you “must have” in your name and/or possession when the divorce is final.
• Helping you create options for dividing assets and debts
• Reviewing medical insurance protection as a family and as individuals.
• Suggesting when to update beneficiaries in your wills, insurance, retirement accounts, employee benefits packages, and medical proxy.

Communication Collaborative Professionals

“High-conflict” couples can have a collaborative divorce process, too. Requesting guidance from a communications coach will help you structure difficult conversations in a non-hurtful way. You will not have to go to court; you hold these meetings in non-threatening and comfortable places. When you want every conversation’s outcome to be meaningful and positive, communication professionals have a process you can follow; here are examples of how communications coaches can help:

1. Identify all issues that you need to be addressed and prioritize them.
2. Help you gather the information you will need during the discussion(s).
3. Help you better communicate what is important to you in an attempt to meet your and your partner’s needs.

Your Collaborative Divorce Attorney

In order to guarantee both of you will be well-served individually during your collaborative divorce, each of you should seek representation by an Arizona collaborative divorce attorney. Your attorney will provide the legal advice you need, help you retain your dignity and keep your divorce out of the courtroom while ensuring that your agreements and all documents are in compliance with the laws of the state of Arizona.

You and your Arizona collaborative divorce attorney  and other collaborative professionals will establish the number of meetings you require and the timespan of each meeting, but it’s difficult to set a specific end-date for resolution. Every divorce’s complexities vary.

Divorce is an ending but it can also be the beginning of a better quality of life for you, your partner, and the relationships you will continue to share. Collaborative divorce is a good choice, and BestLegalChoices.com can help. Contact us to put a plan in place today.