Sarasota Collaborative Divorce Attorneys
A Non-Adversarial Approach to Divorce in Florida Peaceful Divorce Process in Florida
If you're heading towards a divorce, you're probably worried about engaging in a bitter, exhausting courtroom battle with your soon-to-be-ex. After all, the average US divorce costs around $15,000, and much of that money is allocated to court fees.
What if there were a better way? Collaborative divorce offers partners a less expensive, stressful way to dissolve their marriage. Instead of focusing on ferocious fights in court, the collaborative divorce process helps couples negotiate mutually beneficial terms for their divorce.
At Boeller Law, our Florida collaborative divorce lawyers can help you navigate the collaborative divorce process and pursue an ideal outcome in your divorce case.
To schedule a consultation with our team or learn more, contact us online or via phone at (941) 315-8598.
How Does Collaborative Divorce Work in Florida?
Collaborative law offers spouses a way to dissolve their marriage outside of the courtroom.
In a collaborative divorce, each spouse chooses a lawyer to represent them. The spouses and their lawyers then hold a series of meetings to negotiate terms for the divorce and various divorce-related processes like property division, child custody and support, alimony, etc. Unlike a traditional courtroom divorce, no judge presides over the case.
The number of sessions it takes to finalize a collaborative divorce depends on the details of the case. If the parties share children, possess valuable marital assets, or simply have a substantial disagreement, it may take several sessions to finalize a collaborative divorce. In contrast, if the spouses largely agree on how to proceed with the divorce, you may be able to resolve your divorce fairly quickly.
Throughout the collaborative divorce process, attorneys often request help from third-party professionals. For example, your attorney may want to have a financial professional evaluate your assets and liabilities before discussing terms for property division with your spouse and their representation. These professionals help ensure that when the spouses compromise, they can come to a fair agreement.
Collaborative divorce focuses on enabling good-faith negotiations between parties. In a successful collaborative divorce, both parties walk away feeling like they came to a "win-win" arrangement, where each gets what they want from the divorce.
Once you're done negotiating with your soon-to-be-ex, the lawyers will draft a collaborative law agreement that lays out the terms for the divorce in writing. You and your ex must then sign the agreement and take it to your county court. A judge will examine the agreement to make sure it's legally sound. If the judge approves the agreement, they'll sign it, finalizing your divorce.
What Are The Benefits of Choosing a Collaborative Divorce?
Pursuing a collaborative divorce has several benefits:
- Lower costs. As we mentioned earlier, divorce can be quite expensive. By taking your divorce out of the courtroom, you'll avoid paying expensive court fees. Additionally, the amicable nature of collaborative divorce often helps parties reach an agreement quickly, which can lower the over cost of the divorce.
- Less stress. Most people find collaborative divorce significantly less stressful than pursuing a divorce in court. You can work with your partner to establish a mutually beneficial arrangement, eliminating the fear that your soon-to-be-ex will try and get more than they deserve from the divorce. If you want to maintain a positive relationship with your ex post-divorce, collaborative divorce is a great option.
- More privacy. You'll have more privacy with a collaborative divorce since it happens outside the courtroom. People won't be able to pry into courtroom hearings or documents to learn more about the dissolution of your marriage.
At Boeller Law, our Florida collaborative divorce lawyers can help you pursue the ideal outcome in your divorce. We'll work tirelessly to protect your rights and best interests as you navigate the collaborative divorce process.
Ready for a smoother divorce journey? Contact our Sarasota team online or call us at (941) 315-8598 for a consultation.
