Authored by David Ginsberg, Esq.
The Collaborative Process provides a structure in which spouses/parents can build a professional team to address the specific issues related to your family and design a settlement agreement that is tailored specifically for your family.
The professional team can help you address financial and emotional issues arising from the relationship, not just the legal issues. By addressing all aspects of a separation, divorce, or other family related issue, the transition to the next phase of your life is likely to be easier to face and to go more smoothly.
Furthermore, by putting the effort into addressing the legal, financial, and emotional aspects of the family issues that have arisen, your agreement can address them in a practical and comprehensive manner. The result is an agreement that is closely tailored to your family and one that addresses not only the current issues, but also looks forward and addresses the issues that you anticipate will arise in the future.
The benefit of a comprehensive and forward-looking agreement generated in a process that ensures that both parties understand the basis for its terms is that parties are more likely to comply with the agreement and they are less likely to try to change it. If a change needs to be made, you already have an established team and process in place to help you navigate the new sitatuation.
The short-term benefit is that an agreement that truly addresses the needs of your family will be practical and effective. This will reduce the conflicts and friction between former spouses, and reduce confusion and uncertainty for your children. The long-term benefit is that spouses/parents are less likely to return to seek modifications and the reduced conflict often leads to a better relationship between parents, and that turns into a greater ability to co-parent.
