Are you considering getting a divorce? Has your spouse been giving you signs that a divorce may be imminent? Maybe you and your spouse jointly have discussed or even already agreed to get divorced. No matter the situation, you may be wondering if you can avoid the costs, stress and difficulties involved in a traditional litigated divorce. Many Florida residents before you have had the same wish to do this and have found that the state does offer some alternatives. One of these is referred to as collaborative divorce.
A collaborative divorce is not the same thing as mediation but follows a similar spirit insofar as one goal is to avoid court and letting a judge make your final decisions. The Florida Bar explains that both you and your spouse will still hire separate attorneys in a collaborative divorce, as with a traditional divorce. However, the difference becomes how your negotations are approached. Instead of being pit against each other in a spirit of trying to win or outdo the other person, a collaborative divorce is focused on finding amicable resolutions. You, your spouse and both attorneys enter into a written agreement indicating that this is your goal.
If, for any reason, you are not able to come to agreements using the collaborative approach, the attorneys involved are not allowed to represent you in court. You and your spouse will need to hire new counsel.
If you would like to learn more about collaborative divorce, please feel free to visit the marital dissolution options page of our Florida family law website.
