When couples decide to end their marriage, the prospect of going through divorce can seem unbearable. Demanding letters from solicitors, acrimonious courtroom scenes, battles over the custody of children; the image of the divorce process is hardly a favourable one.
A new approach to divorce has been developed over the past decade that is helping couples to divorce in a way that is far more amicable. Now recommended by some of the very best divorce solicitors Leeds has to offer, the collaborative approach to divorce is making great progress in reducing the stress of divorce whilst helping couples to protect their family relationships.
How does collaborative divorce vary from the traditional divorce process? The collaborative approach is unique because it is based upon the theory that when couples communicate directly, the outcomes that are reached are far more successful than those reached in court.
The collaborative divorce process begins with couples being asked to sign a collaborative participation agreement. When couples sign the agreement, they are confirming that they will not take divorce proceedings to court. Should either side break the agreement, the collaborative process ends immediately.
Courtrooms are notoriously stressful places and many solicitors now understand that if couples are to resolve their differences quickly and amicably, it is best for them to steer clear of the courts where possible. Collaborative divorce is conduced almost entirely outside court and resolutions are reached in a series of face-to-face meetings.
These face-to-face meetings are the lynchpin of the collaborative approach. Couples are accompanied to collaborative meetings by their solicitor; however solicitors are on hand to just give legal advice as and when necessary.
A huge worry for many couples contemplating divorce is the possibility of their children suffering from stress and anxiety. The collaborative approach to divorce can help to ease these concerns because the focus of the process is placed upon the needs and requirements of children.
The collaborative approach actively encourages couples to talk about their children in a calm, rational way, helping them to reach long-lasting and effective resolutions for custody arrangements. An arrangement for the care of children is usually one of the most sensitive aspects of any divorce; the collaborative approach to divorce can help to guide couples through child custody issues in a positive and constructive way.
The cost of going through divorce can often prove to be a huge financial burden for separating couples. The collaborative approach to divorce helps couples to understand the cost of their divorce from the very beginning, helping them to avoid unforeseen costs once the process is complete.
Many collaborative divorce solicitors have designed transparent, fixed-fee pricing structures. These pricing structures take into account the reality that some divorces will take a long time to resolve whilst others will prove relatively simple to finalise. By reducing money worries in this way, collaborative solicitors understand that this can ease much of the stress normally associated with divorce.
Collaborative divorce is now being practiced by legal firms in Leeds; family law solicitors based in the city are happy to give couples guidance and further information on how the collaborative approach to divorce can help them control their finances whilst helping them to reach long-lasting resolutions.