It’s important when considering divorce that you know what options are available to you. The most familiar type of divorce is a conventional one, where attorneys, experts, and judges are all a part of the scene. However, you now have the option to participate in a Collaborative Divorce in Arizona. As long as both parties are willing to work together to reach a fair agreement, it’s an excellent choice for reducing stress, costs, and coming to a mutually beneficial outcome.

What is a Collaborative Divorce?

A collaborative divorce is one where both spouses have their own lawyers, and the lawyers work with their clients and other members of a collaborative team to settle divorce issues without going to court. In Arizona, collaborative divorce is more private than a traditional divorce. In addition, you and your spouse can negotiate resolutions to all issues facing your family.

What Does Collaborative Divorce in Arizona Cover?

Collaborative divorce in Arizona covers many of the same issues as a traditional divorce; however, the collaborative process relies on negotiation and agreements rather than arguing and litigating. Some of the things you can negotiate with your spouse include:

• Spousal support/maintenance – Your collaborative divorce attorneys and neutral financial professional will guide you in determining how spousal support should be addressed in your divorce. Both parties must offer clear and honest financial information to reach an agreement.
• Legal decision-making and parenting plans – A collaborative divorce in Arizona will cover legal decision making (formerly called custody) and division of parenting time with children. Spouses will negotiate parenting time, including whether there is a primary custodian or an equal division of parenting time, and many other issues surrounding the children. The goal is to create an agreement that puts the children’s needs first.
• Pets – Another issue that can be addressed in a collaborative divorce is pets. The team will help facilitate a discussion to determine who gets the pets, or whether pets and the costs of pets are shared.
• Division of assets and property – Both parties must be fully transparent to come to a fair outcome. Collaborative divorce in Arizona will guide spouses through the process of asset and property division while working to avoid a ‘fight.’

How Do You Handle Complex Issues in a Collaborative Divorce in Arizona?

During a collaborative divorce, you can bring in professionals to help with more complex issues. This may include legal, communication, or financial issues. The goal is to come to an agreement that benefits everyone.

Why is a Collaborative Divorce a Good Option?

People who are willing to work together and want to avoid having a judge make decisions for them will find collaborative divorce an excellent option. Not only can it help to reduce costs, but it can also reduce stress, negative feelings, and excessive fighting. It is a more thorough option than a DIY divorce. When trying to wade through paperwork and contracts, it’s easy to miss something. Once your divorce is signed, you may realize down the road something important wasn’t addressed. The same is true for mediation – because you don’t necessarily use legal professionals, you may miss something. In a collaborative setting, you are using attorneys who understand what needs to be covered and are well-versed in what paperwork needs to be done.

Collaborative divorce in Arizona is an excellent choice when both spouses are willing to work together and want to avoid a high conflict situation. If you want to protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances and learn more about collaborative divorce, contact one of the professionals at Best Legal Choices.

How Much Does Collaborative Divorce Cost in Arizona?

Divorce litigation can be extremely expensive, with lawyer fees ranging from a few thousand dollars to well over a hundred thousand dollars per party in complex cases. Although every case is different, couples who use the collaborative divorce process often spent a fraction of the legal fees that might be incurred for complex litigation. Also, most collaborative divorces can be completed in significantly less time than their litigated counterparts.

Visit BestLegalChoices.com for a list of professionals trained in collaborative process.

How Do I Find Collaborative Divorce Lawyers Near Me?

By choosing to use a collaborative divorce lawyer listed on this site, you are more likely to experience a civil divorce where both parties are comfortable with the terms.

If you are searching for collaborative divorce lawyers or divorce options in Arizona, the independent professionals at Best Legal Choices can help. We can explain many out-of-court divorce options such as collaborative divorce and divorce mediation in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Arizona and surrounding areas.