Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce Association

COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE 101

The collaborative process is private; confidentiality is maintained with regard to all family information. Parties remain in total control of the outcome — any resolution must be agreeable to both parties. Parties are encouraged to treat each other respectfully pro- moting more positive post-divorce relations and peaceful co-parenting. Because there are no court appearances and little paperwork, the total cost of the collaborative process is generally far less than the cost of going to court to litigate the divorce. The actual cost depends on how long it takes to reach an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.

A Couples Five Options for Divorce:

TOP TEN FEATURES OF COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE

1. THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS IS PRIVATE.
2. CONFIDENTIALITY IS MAINTAINED WITH REGARD TO ALL FAMILY INFORMATION.
3. THE WELFARE OF YOUR CHILDREN IS A PRIMARY FOCUS OF ALL RESOLUTIONS
4. PARTIES REMAIN IN TOTAL CONTROL OF THE OUTCOME ANY RESOLUTION MUST BE AGREEABLE TO BOTH PARTIES.
5. PARTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO TREAT EACH OTHER RESPECTFULLY PROMOTING MORE POSITIVE POST-DIVORCE RELATIONS AND PEACEFUL CO-PARENTING.
6. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO COURT APPEARANCES AND LITTLE PAPERWORK,
   THE TOTAL COST OF THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS IS GENERALLY FAR LESS THAN THE COST OF GOING TO COURT TO LITIGATE THE DIVORCE. THE ACTUAL COST DEPENDS ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH PARTIES.
7. EACH PARTY GETS ALL THE LEGAL, FINANCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE THEY NEED TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS.
8. ALL THE PROFESSIONALS ARE EXPERIENCED IN THEIR PRIMARY FIELD AND IN THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.
9. THE CASES ARE GENERALLY RESOLVED IN LESS THAN HALF THE TIME IT TAKES TO LITIGATE A CASE.
10. YOU NEVER HAVE TO APPEAR IN A COURTROOM BEFORE A JUDGE.
    YOU NEVER HAVE TO PAY YOUR LAWYER TO WAIT FOR A COURT APPEARANCE.