The Interdisciplinary Team

Clients can enter into the Collaborative Divorce process through the door of any collaboratively trained professional. It’s not uncommon for a divorcing couple to contact a collaborative attorney after speaking to a coach or financial professional. After meeting with their attorneys, clients choose their team members from a list of collaboratively trained professionals. Once the Agreement to Collaborate and Waiver of Confidentiality (allowing team members to discuss the case among themselves) is signed, the case is ready to begin. Most often, clients will meet with their coaches first to work on issues that will enable them to make viable, well thought out decisions rather than regretful decisions made from emotions that may cloud rational thinking. The coaches also teach communication techniques and problem solving techniques that foster efficient resolution of issues.

Attorneys provide legal advice throughout the process. From beginning to end, all their effort is put into assisting the parties to reach an amicable settlement that meets the needs of all family members and is admissible to the court. Attorneys also draft the legal documents that will be filed with the court.

Most decision-making is done in “four-ways” which are meetings where the attorneys and clients, coaches and clients or any configuration there of are present. All decisions are reviewed by the attorneys. At present, Collaborative Divorce is the only model that provides a structure for both emotional support and legal guidance.

If children are involved, the Child Specialist meets with the children to provide them with a safe place to voice their feelings and express their needs. The Child Specialist will meet in a “five-way”, (clients, coaches and Child Specialist) to ensure the needs and concerns of each child are being taken into consideration by both parents and all members of the team. Based on this report, the coaches support the parents as they create a workable co-parenting plan. Focusing on future planning is a unique component of the collaborative process.

The Financial Specialist works for both parties as a neutral third party. (S)he meets with both parties, gathers the needed documentation and assists in budgeting, property distribution, tax implications, support and other related economic decisions. Immediate financial concerns as well as long-term planning are addressed. One unique benefit of the Financial Specialist is his(her) assistance to the family to contain the costs of the divorce process in the most effective way as possible. Most families have not budgeted for how they will pay for their divorce.

Once the settlement is reached, the attorneys draft and file the appropriate paperwork required by the court. Clients never enter the courthouse.

In Collaborative Divorce, clients benefit throughout collaboration

from the assistance and support of all their chosen professionals.

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