Questions You Want Answered > Collaborative Divorce - An Alternative to Going to Court > What is Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative Divorce is a method of alternative dispute resolution which combines the best aspects of mediation and lawyer negotiation while providing the clients the support and the tools they need to reach resolutions that are acceptable to both of them. The one absolute requirement of a collaborative divorce is a collaborative participation agreement, signed by both spouses and their collaboratively trained attorneys. That agreement provides that:
- The spouses are committed to resolving their differences without going to court to resolve any issues.
- If the spouses go to court, they will have to retain different attorneys.
- The spouses will provide all information and documents necessary to reach a resolution.
- Any resolution must be acceptable to both of them.
In Maryland, the preferred method of Collaborative Divorce is the team model, where each spouse has their own attorney who is trained in the collaborative process and a divorce coach, who is a mental health professional. The team also consists of a child specialist, if there are children, and a financial neutral.
Last updated on June 25, 2010 by Karen Robbins, Attorney at Law