Getting a divorce can be a complex, difficult process, but fortunately, couples have a number of options for how they can approach the decisions they will need to make and the disputes they will need to resolve. While litigating a divorce in court is always a possibility, this is often the last resort since a divorce trial can be lengthy, expensive, and emotionally draining. In most cases, couples will work to negotiate a divorce settlement, allowing them to complete the divorce process without fighting battles in the courtroom. Mediation is one way of doing so, but collaborative divorce is an increasingly popular option for ending your marriage in Michigan.
What Is Collaborative Divorce?
During a collaborative divorce, spouses will work together to create a divorce settlement, and they will each be represented by an attorney who has been trained in collaborative law. At the beginning of the collaborative process, the spouses and their attorneys will sign an agreement stating that they will be honest with each other, negotiate in good faith, and provide any information requested by the other party. To foster the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, the attorneys will agree to withdraw from the case if the couple cannot reach a settlement, and the spouses will need to find new attorneys to represent them during divorce litigation.
...