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The Workings and Procedure of a Collaborative Divorce Case in Lake Mary, Florida

What is a Collaborative Divorce, and what are the workings and procedures of a collaborative divorce case? A Collaborative Divorce case is a divorce case wherein you do not go to court. You agree to do the case through the collaborative process. Both spouses must agree to do the case through the collaborative process to proceed that way. You must also understand that if you do not succeed in the collaborative process, you cannot use your collaborative attorneys in litigation. 

When you proceed collaboratively, you do not go to court. Instead, you have team meetings. A Team consists of a financial neutral, a mental health neutral, and the attorneys for the participant spouses, and the participant spouses. The mental health neutral, the financial neutral, and the attorneys are classified as professionals. When the meetings occur, the professionals meet for half an hour. Then, the Team meets for two hours. Next, the professionals meet for a half-hour debrief. That makes the meetings three hours with the participants attending for two of the three hours. The meetings usually occur from 9 am or 9:30 am to 12 noon or 12:30 pm. Or the meetings occur from 1 or 1:30 pm to 4 or 4:30 pm. 

During the meetings, the participants express their goals. The Team works to help the participants achieve those goals. The financial neutral gathers the financial documents and comprises a net worth chart. The participants’ goals are usually reflected in the charts. The financial neutral also calculates alimony and child support if that is part of the participants’ goals. 

The collaborative process is much more cordial and less stressful than litigation. The collaborative process is a lot cheaper than litigation. The collaborative process takes much less time to complete than a litigated case. Would you rather do your case in an office conference room or a courtroom? With the collaborative process, you do not have to attend a temporary relief hearing, a mediation and a trial. You get to stay out of the courtroom. Further, you may be able to do your collaborative meetings by Zoom under special circumstances. A collaborative case is easier to fit into a busy schedule than a litigated case. A collaborative divorce ensures the privacy and confidentiality of your affairs. 

If you have more questions regarding a Marital and Family Law matter, you may call Ann Marie Giordano Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P.A. at 407-732-7620 and set an initial consultation. You may also visit my website at: https://www.annmariegildenlaw.com 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not form an attorney-client privilege.