Going through a divorce can be quite challenging, expensive, and contentious. Most divorces never rise to the level you see on TV, but this doesn’t mean that it’s a walk in the park.
Divorce consultation attorneys have to first explain the divorce process to you, so you can decide whether you are willing to go through with it or not. Most states will encourage couples to try and work together and resolve their issues amicably rather than going to court.
What Is Collaborative Divorce?
This is a legal process of divorce that allows couples to negotiate all of the divorce terms without the need for fighting in court or mud-slinging. The couples will book a divorce lawyer consultation in order to find a lawyer that can combine both negotiation and mediation in a bid to reach an agreement.
How does it work?
The collaborative divorce process starts with a family lawyer consultation, who sits down with the couple to have a conversation that ensures both parties are willing to work together and negotiate the terms.
If they are unwilling to work together, then it’s not going to work.
Next;
Each couple then hires a divorce consultation lawyer, who should be an experienced collaborative divorce attorney to work with them. A simple search for “divorce consultation near me” will be able to find some lawyers within your city.
Together with their lawyers, the couple will hold a private discussion on what they want to receive from the divorce. This conversation should include whether they want to divide their debts and assets and how they wish to handle the custody of their children.
Both parties should then start preparing a collaborative divorce team, including a divorce coach, a child specialist, and a financial specialist.
Afterward, they will meet with their spouse with their attorney for the first of many meetings. Initially, both parties will sign a “no court” agreement allowing the attorneys to withdraw the case from court.
The subsequent meetings will be for the attorneys and the collaborative divorce team to revisit the wants and needs both parties described in the beginning during the divorce process.
Both parties should provide each other with the information needed for negotiations, such as employment, tax returns, salary benefits, and other assets and debts.
Conclusion
Hiding assets during a divorce is common, but if you do not disclose everything and your spouse discovers, it may destroy all the work done during the collaborative divorce. It may cause the case to be re-filed in court to alter any settlements previously made.
Once you have negotiated all the terms, the lawyers will be able to draft an agreement to settle the divorce, where you will both sign. Be careful not to sign any documents unless you have read and understood. Your divorce consultation lawyer should guide you on this.