Collaborative Divorce

What is Collaborative Practice?

Collaborative practice provides both spouses with attorneys who agree to work cooperatively and constructively to find a mutually acceptable divorce agreement. Like divorce mediation, it utilizes specialists to help clients grasp their situation and make informed decisions.

Why Choose Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative practice provides people with more control over their divorce, reduced conflict and stress and a better adjustment to post-divorce life. It can deliver these results because it maximizes communication, collaboration and client education in divorce. If you are considering collaborative divorce, you likely already know about the benefits of communication and collaboration — and the disadvantages to litigating divorce in court. If you have specific questions about collaborative divorce, we welcome you to contact Cleland Collaborative Divorce. Because how you approach your divorce will have a great effect on your life, it is our mission to help you educate yourself on all your options. So we offer a free one hour consultation to answer your questions.

How Does Collaborative Divorce Work?

Step One: Retain a Lawyer Specially Trained in Collaborative Law

We will help you to retain divorce lawyers who are specially trained in collaborative law / collaborative divorce. Each of you will then have your own attorney to act as your trusted advisor and advocate.

Step Two: Enter Into a Participation Agreement

The Participation Agreement is entered into by both the spouses and their attorneys and requires that all work cooperatively and communicate openly to reach a mutually acceptable out-of-court resolution.

Step Three: Build a Team

Expert specialists are added to the team as necessary. These specialists provide assistance with emotional, financial, or parenting issues. From financial advisors to coaches to child specialists, these specially trained resources help you keep this process more efficient and effective.

Step Four: Gather Information

Both sides identify the financial and other information needed to make informed decisions.

Step Five: Have Meetings

A series of meetings with the attorneys, the couple, and as needed any specialists, are held to resolve all issues, including parenting decisions and division of marital property. During these meetings, everyone strives to remain civil and respectful to one another.

Step Six – Memorialize the Agreement and File in Court

Once you reach an agreement, your attorneys create legally-binding documents and file them with the courts.

Interested in Collaborative Divorce? Next Steps

Contact us to schedule a free consultation about getting the process started. We offer daytime and evening hours to fit your schedule. Our Mount Clemens collaborative divorce team works with clients in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne County and elsewhere in Southeast Michigan.

Not sure yet if collaborative practice is right for you? We're happy to discuss the pros and cons of other options, as well. Or learn more here on our website about divorce in court (and how we can help), as well as other out-of-court options for divorce that we offer, such as mediation and pro se divorce.