Collaborative divorce may bring privacy and better outcomes

A collaborative marriage dissolution typically begins with two spouses agreeing to negotiate a settlement on their own with the aid of their attorneys. As noted by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, by conducting the negotiation process out of court, divorcing couples may keep their personal and financial matters private.

A traditional divorce generally requires disclosing income and assets to the court. Rather than share those details in a courtroom setting, soon-to-be ex-spouses may maintain their privacy. Issues contributing to a breakup, for example, may stay out of the court’s database and not become part of a public record.

Property division issues may prove easier to resolve through collaboration

Michigan’s divorce laws require splitting shared marital property fairly between two spouses. A collaborative divorce offers a neutral procedure and setting. Each spouse may discuss asset division in a way that he or she finds fair and meaningful.

Instead of litigating in court with an all-or-nothing approach, individuals may discuss which assets they prefer to keep or trade without fear of an adverse reaction. Divorcing couples may avoid potentially heated disagreements when an attorney can step in and advocate for his or her client’s needs.

Collaboration may include discussions covering child custody and support

Collaboration may include personalizing child custody arrangements. It may also eliminate the need for a family court judge to decide the outcome. As noted by U.S. News & World Report, couples may devise their own system for co-parenting their children. Individuals may also discuss financial support that maintains their desired lifestyles instead of a standard payment arrangement scheduled by the court.

A fair and amicable divorce settlement may require lengthy discussions regarding each individual’s needs. By avoiding a traditional court procedure and a detailed public record, collaboration may enable a couple to dissolve their marriage in private and on their own terms.