In the state of Texas, every divorce begins with the filing of a petition and every divorce ends with a decree. But what happens between the beginning of the petition and the entry of the decree determines your final outcome. There are many different ways to get from point A to point B. The benefits of collaborative divorce may be of interest to you.
Collaborative divorce is focused on your future
The very first thing we do in a collaborative divorce session is to ask each of you, what are your goals and interests? Where do you want to be at the end of the divorce? As you prepare to start your next chapter, I assure you in a litigated divorce, that’s not what happens.
Once a divorce gets to the courtroom, the focus is on blame and whose fault it was that X, Y, and Z happened. In my experience as a divorce lawyer, the very best outcomes that my clients achieve are when they focus on the future.
Collaborative divorce is private and confidential
Look, no family is perfect. We all have skeletons in the closet, but going into a public forum to air your dirty laundry is destructive. Instead of taking that approach, we can help you preserve the dignity of your family with a collaborative divorce.
Collaborative divorce takes a team
We’ve all heard the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, collaborative divorce is similar. Except it doesn’t take a village, it takes a team. Your lawyers actually work together to help solve problems. We often enlist the expertise of a mental health professional and/or a financial professional to help us brainstorm options and come up with the very best solutions for you and your family.
In a collaborative divorce, you are in control
In the collaborative divorce process, you and your spouse get to control the outcome and create unique solutions that suit your family. When we’re in litigation, we are constrained by what’s called the Texas Family Code but in collaborative divorce, we get to set this aside and come up with solutions that address the specific needs of your family. After all, every family is different so you don’t want a one size fits all outcome.
Collaborative divorce happens on your timeline
You and your spouse may enter the divorce process at very different levels of readiness, and that’s okay. You have the support of an entire team to help both of you make the adjustments and accommodations that happen during this time of transition.
Look, divorce isn’t easy. I wish I had a magic wand and could make it painless and effortless, but I don’t. But what I do know is that we do not need to make it more difficult than it already is. And collaborative divorce gives you resources to help you get through your divorce with dignity and grace.
If you or someone you know is considering divorce. I hope you’ll download our collaborative divorce guide and learn more about whether or not might be a good fit for you.
