Although television programs and public celebrity splits would lead us all to think that divorce is a messy legal process where entire relationships, good and bad, are left open for anyone to see, this is normally not the truth for most divorces. Dissolving a relationship is not a straightforward thing to do and can cause some minor inconveniences, but it’s present in nearly any legal proceeding. In fact, many people may be surprised to learn that there’s more than one way to get a divorce. One of the more relaxed and fewer dramatic ways to get a divorce is with a collaborative divorce.

What is a Joint Divorce?

A collaborative divorce is a legally recognized divorce that gives spouses the freedom to work together to negotiate the terms of the divorce. A good Utah family law lawyer can help couples go over the terms of a negotiated separation to make sure that it’s legally valid before taking it to court. Sometimes a collaborative divorce will include a mediator who is a neutral party and a separate divorce lawyer. Even although the terms of the divorce have been finalized between the couple, including spousal and child support, handling joint debts and property and child custody, attorneys are still present to make sure that their clients aren’t cut short. and to complete the petition.

How Does Collaborative Divorce Work?

Going the collaborative route is a reasonably easy and easy process. Things are only about to get complicated the way divorced couples do. For a collaborative divorce to work, both partners must be willing to work together and come to an agreement. There is no such thing as one-sided collaboration. Both parties hire an lawyer and all parties involved seek a mutually beneficial settlement, where neither party feels uncomfortable with the settlement or that their needs aren’t being met. Besides attorneys, spouses also bring in financial specialist, therapists, and the like to help navigate some of the more sensitive areas of divorce. It is important to note that it’s the responsibility of both parties to provide all necessary and current financial, asset and other reports to make sure that the process is fair. If either party decides to withhold information, the divorce court can reopen your case and make a new settlement. Once everything is agreed upon, the lawyer will draw up the settlement, everybody will sign and it will go to the judge to sign off, finalizing the divorce.

Who Can Divorce Collaboratively?

Every married couple can do a collaborative divorce. It does not matter if it is a couple same gender or heterosexual. A legally married couple is all that is required. If both partners are willing to negotiate maturely and can be trusted to be honest and fair, then a collaborative divorce is likely to work out well. If one party is unwilling to put differences aside and openly and rationally discuss the parameters of the separation, a collaborative divorce won’t be the most suitable option.

Divorce can be messy. But when both partners are committed to keeping things as neat and friendly as possible, a collaborative divorce looks far better than a conventional divorce. Depending on the terms that need to be negotiated, a collaborative divorce can even take less time. Keeping the judge out of your marriage and keeping your private life private absolutely makes this sort of divorce more attractive.