Going through a divorce puts a lot of emotional and mental stress on any individual. Of course, taking that case to court will only add to the stress.
Fortunately, it is possible to avoid taking a divorce case to court. But exactly how does this work, and is it an option viable for everyone?
What to expect from this process
Cornell Law School looks into collaborative divorce options for couples. Collaborative divorce bases itself on the notion of a couple each hiring their own personal representatives to handle negotiations in meetings, rather than taking the case to court. It focuses more on working together, rather than arguing and fighting against one another.
Personal representatives know what their respective clients want out of the divorce discussions and work with one another in order to make reasonable steps toward achieving those goals. They also encourage compromising and trading in order for each individual to get closer to their ideal desirable outcome, which is not necessarily feasible on its own.
Getting support from other sources
They may request the additional help of a mediator, who specializes in conflict management and dispute resolution. This is an extra step that will serve couples well if they have a harder time getting through discussions – especially high tension discussions – without the lines of communication breaking down.
This option still does not suit every couple, though. It requires a level of cooperation and the ability to come to compromises with little outside help, which not everyone going through a divorce can manage. Fortunately, collaborative divorce is not the only way to avoid litigation, but just one of many.