Although the dissolution of a marriage is often painted as a contentious process in Texas, it does not always have to be filled with fighting and disagreement. In fact, in many divorce situations, the spouses are hoping to call it quits in as amicable a way as possible. These spouses may benefit from a process known as collaborative divorce.
The collaborative divorce process is client driven, allowing both parties to set the pace instead of having the court dictate what happens. Typically, each spouse has his or her own attorney during this process. In addition, a financial professional and mental health expert who are both neutral play important roles during this type of family law proceeding.
The spouses both sign an agreement that reflects their dedication to resolving their issues without further court intrusion. In addition, they must agree that if their collaborative efforts end up being unsuccessful, their attorneys cannot represent them during their divorce trial. The mental health professional works to prevent the process from breaking down as a result of conflict between both sides. In a traditional marital split-up, the fanning of flames of conflict by one or both sides’ legal counsel is often what causes the proceeding to drag on, thus costing more money and time and leading to more stress.
In a collaborative divorce, both parties identify their long- and short-term goals and move in the direction of achieving them. The outcome is often much more mutually satisfactory than that experienced following traditional litigation. An attorney in Texas can provide guidance during each step of a collaborative divorce proceeding.
Source: jaxdailyrecord.com, “The collaborative process can lead to divorce without drama“, Laura Giovannetti, May 22, 2017