The goal of divorce is to separate and end a marriage with as little emotional, financial, or family turmoil as possible, a process in which a collaborative divorce attorney can be instrumental. This can be achieved through the collaborative divorce process, mediation, or traditional litigation. At McConnell Family Law Group, our goal is to help clients choose the process that will best meet their needs, including the guidance of a collaborative divorce attorney when appropriate.
A collaborative divorce involves a team approach where both spouses and their collaborative divorce attorneys are supported by neutral professionals including a coach, child specialist, and financial professional. These experts are specially licensed and trained to work in the collaborative law setting, guided by the expertise of the collaborative divorce attorney. They cannot participate in any adversarial court proceeding but are available to the couple outside of court in the case of an impasse.
As you may imagine, a roadblock in the collaborative divorce can arise regarding any of these topics. To address these roadblocks, collaborative divorce attorneys often bring in additional specialists, such as a certified divorce financial analyst or business valuator, to provide independent financial analysis and support for constructive negotiations. This inclusive approach underscores the essential role of the collaborative divorce attorney in facilitating productive discussions.
In the rare instance that an impasse cannot be resolved through constructive negotiation, both spouses and their collaborative divorce attorneys can agree to terminate the case and begin proceedings in court. Collaborative divorce attorneys play a critical role in this decision, emphasizing the importance of their involvement in the process.
The collaborative divorce process, facilitated by skilled collaborative divorce attorneys, can be used in any divorce situation, whether a couple is separating or getting a divorce, and regardless of the complexity of assets and liabilities involved. Our attorneys, including our collaborative divorce attorneys, are skilled in representing clients with the most complicated divorce situations as well as those with more modest assets and simple property structures.
Choosing the right divorce process is one of the most important decisions you will make. At McConnell Family Law Group, we will help you decide which method will be the most effective in meeting your needs and goals for your family, including considering the use of a collaborative divorce attorney. Contact us to schedule a consultation today. We serve individuals and families throughout various locations and offer a full range of family law services, including collaborative, mediation, and traditional litigation.
A collaborative divorce, guided by a collaborative divorce attorney, is a non-litigation settlement process that is a good option for couples who are ready to resolve their disputes without going to court. This process is less time-consuming, less combative, and generally less expensive than a traditional divorce.
In a collaborative divorce, each spouse is represented by a collaborative divorce attorney trained in the process. The attorneys, together with a financial professional and coach, work as a team to support the clients’ interests. As a full-team approach, spouses are encouraged to communicate openly and honestly with one another in four-way meetings to find solutions that are mutually agreeable.
During the process, creative problem-solving is utilized to produce an agreement that is uniquely tailored to each client’s goals and priorities. A collaborative divorce attorney plays a crucial role in facilitating this type of resolution, which is often more durable and less likely to create issues for the parties in the future. Additionally, unlike traditional litigation, a full-team approach to resolving divorce disputes allows the spouses to avoid the expense and delays associated with scheduling court hearings for their case and the delay in obtaining a judgment from the judge.
A parental coordinator or parenting coach may also be hired to represent any children involved in the case. The role of the collaborative divorce attorney, along with coaching and parenting professionals, is to help the spouses communicate with one another, focus their efforts on the children’s needs and interests, address co-parenting issues, and assist in resolving custody and visitation concerns.
All spouses involved in a collaborative divorce are required to fully disclose all their financial information in accordance with the terms of a financial affidavit signed by both parties. This ensures that both parties have the same level of knowledge regarding the assets and liabilities they possess at the time of separation and that all available resources are being explored to reach a solution. The collaborative divorce attorney ensures this transparency throughout the process.
Although the collaborative divorce process is often used to resolve separation and divorce cases, it is also a good option for cases involving complex asset and liability structures, marital misconduct and/or child abuse allegations. The collaborative divorce attorneys at McConnell Family Law Group are trained in collaborative practice and can work with you to decide whether this method of resolution is a viable option for your situation. We will educate you on the benefits of this process and help you understand how it can fit with your particular family’s unique circumstances. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
If you and your spouse are separating, you must make decisions that will protect your interests and the best interests of any children involved in the family. The legal process of divorce is often adversarial, but with the aid of a collaborative divorce attorney, it can be more amicable. McConnell Family Law Group is committed to helping families reach settlements with minimal impact on their lives, and our attorneys are experienced collaborative divorce lawyers who know how to facilitate productive negotiation sessions.
We use a method called “Collaborative Divorce,” developed over 15 years ago, to minimize the negative economic, social, and emotional impacts of traditional litigation on you and your family. Unlike traditional litigation, the collaborative divorce process, guided by a collaborative divorce attorney, allows you to resolve your divorce without entering the courtroom. Instead, it focuses on a four-way meeting between you, your spouse, and a team of professionals specialized in the different conversations necessary for your divorce.
The collaborative divorce team consists of you and your spouse, both attorneys, and a professional trained in the collaborative process. This professional, along with your collaborative divorce attorney, will serve as your divorce coach, assisting you and your spouse in addressing the three primary conversations of divorce: the emotional, legal, and financial. Your family’s unique situation may also require the involvement of other neutral professionals such as business valuators or child psychologists.
During the four-way meetings, your collaborative divorce attorneys will assist you and your spouse in negotiating an agreement that addresses all of the issues necessary for your family’s divorce. The team, led by the collaborative divorce attorney, will work with you to achieve a mutually acceptable resolution, terminating the attorney’s representation once the agreement is drafted into a final divorce decree.
You and your spouse will have full disclosure of all income, all financial assets including complex retirement accounts, and any information that affects the negotiations. This requirement of the collaborative law process, emphasized by the collaborative divorce attorney, ensures complete and accurate financial disclosure, which is crucial for a fair settlement.
There are many benefits of a collaborative divorce, as highlighted by collaborative divorce attorneys. These include cost savings compared to litigated divorce, as you avoid court fees, settle your case more quickly without waiting for court dates, and conduct the process privately, preserving your privacy and protecting personal relationships. For these reasons, collaborative divorce is often the preferred method of divorce for clients at our firm. However, if the collaborative law approach is not suitable for you, our skilled attorneys, including collaborative divorce attorneys, will advocate for your rights through the litigation process. We encourage you to contact us to learn more about our practice and how we can assist you.
McConnell Family Law Group
500 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830, United States
(203) 541-5520