What is a collaborative divorce

A growing trend in family law is collaborative divorce. This process allows couples to work in a non-confrontational and non-adversarial manner to reach the best result for themselves and for their children. At the Law Office of Shelley Lubritz, PLLC, I help clients in the Las Vegas area and throughout Nevada achieve lasting and amicable settlements through the collaborative process. I am ready to help you dissolve your marriage in a manner that will save time, stress and expense.

What is the process

In collaborative divorce, each spouse hires an attorney, and the four work together to reach the best arrangement for the future. They address all the same concerns as those discussed during a traditional divorce, including:

• Child custody and visitation rights
• Child support
• Asset distribution
• Marital debt division
• Sale or possession of the marital home
• Spousal support and temporary support

However, rather than resolving conflicts out in court, the couple and their attorneys privately work in a manner that reduces stress and anxiety and moves quickly toward resolution.

Benefits of collaborative law divorce

The advantages of collaborative divorce are many:

• Additional privacy — Since the agreement is worked out in private rather than in court, personal information is held in confidence, and there is much less of a public record.
• Time savings — The collaborative process goes much more quickly than one that involves scheduled court appearances and formal discovery.
• Cost savings — Attorney fees are lower because of the reduced time factor.
• Less emotional turmoil — The act of dealing with your former spouse in a cooperative manner means that you do not face as much stress.

If the collaborative process doesn’t work for you, you can easily transition to a traditional divorce. You and your spouse will hire new attorneys, so none of the private matters discussed in the collaborative meetings can be used in the adversarial process.

The cooperative process is not suited for all couples

For collaborative divorce to succeed, an atmosphere of trust must exist. This may not be possible in marriages where there has been domestic violence or when emotions are high. Such divorces are better suited to the adversarial process of the court.

Contact an experienced and effective collaborative divorce attorney

At the Law Office of Shelley Lubritz, PLLC in Las Vegas, I provide honest advice and experienced advocacy to help resolve your family law matters. To schedule a free initial consultation at my Las Vegas office, call 702-833-1300 or contact me online.