If you are ready to get a divorce in Florida, but you and your spouse hate the idea of leaving everything up to a judge, then a collaborative divorce may be the perfect solution for you. The process allows you, your lawyer, your spouse and their lawyer to make informed decisions about what happens to the children, assets and debts after you are no longer a couple.
Collaborative divorce participation agreement
The process starts with each party, including the lawyers, signing a participation agreement. This statement promises that each party will do their best to negotiate a fair divorce.
Initial meeting with your lawyer
You will have a brief meeting with your divorce lawyer so that they can better understand what you want from the divorce. Your spouse will have a similar discussion with their lawyer.
Negotiations
All four people will meet in a neutral venue to start the negotiation process. When necessary, instead of both sides hiring their experts in property and finances, the divorce team will decide on a neutral expert they can trust when required. If a neutral expert comes in, it may delay the process long enough to receive their report. The goal of everyone on the team is to come up with creative, workable solutions instead of each side having to point out the other’s faults in a public courtroom.
Final agreement
After the four parties have agreed, they will sign a final agreement containing their recommendations. In most cases, a collaborative divorce is over in less than a year, and 64% are over in less than six months.
Collaborative divorces in Florida are a great solution, usually resulting in each side getting their primary goals met quickly.