You Have a Choice: How You Resolve Your Divorce Matters
Separation and divorce are always difficult, but the process you choose can make it easier or much harder. You have options, and how you resolve the issues will shape your experience, your future, and your family's well-being.
Collaborative Team Practice
The Collaborative Process is future-focused, respectful, and highly effective. Instead of blame, it emphasizes problem-solving and creativity. You and your spouse work with a team of professionals, lawyers, family coaches, and financial specialists, who help you create a resolution tailored to your family’s unique needs.
What makes it different:
In most cases, Collaborative Practice is the best way to reduce conflict, cost, and emotional harm.
Mediation
In mediation, you and your spouse meet with a neutral third party who helps you negotiate the terms of your agreement. This process encourages communication and cooperation.
Key points:
Some clients prefer Collaborative Practice because their lawyer remains involved throughout negotiations.
Lawyer-Led Negotiations
Lawyer negotiations are another way to reach a settlement outside of court. Sometimes this happens through letters and emails, other times through four-way meetings with both parties and their lawyers.
Benefits:
However, unlike Collaborative Practice, lawyer-led negotiations do not include a commitment to stay out of court. If talks break down, your case could still end up before a judge.
Arbitration
Arbitration is a private, court-like process. You and your spouse choose a neutral arbitrator, usually a senior lawyer or retired judge, who will hear your case and make a binding decision.
Key differences:
Arbitration can be faster than court, but it is still costly and adversarial.
Family Court (Last Resort)
Family court should be your last option. It's expensive, slow, and emotionally taxing. The process is adversarial by nature and often increases the conflict between separating spouses.
What to expect:
While we are fully prepared to represent clients in court, we only recommend it when no other resolution is possible.
Comparing Your Options
Here’s a chart that outlines the differences between each process, so you can make an informed decision about what works best for your family and your future:
