The process of a collaborative divorce is private and confidential. It does not leave the room. The only thing that will leave the room following a collaborative divorce is any agreement that may be incorporated into your final judgment, and then ultimately your final judgment will be filed with the court.

A divorce obtained through the collaborative process would likely have less impact on the children. The focus is on the family and what’s best for the family, and therefore it does tend to have a more positive aspect of it, and not having a significant negative fight involving the children. So it can be better for your children.

The advantages to alternative dispute resolution, in my mind, are twofold. The first is: it’s typically much less expensive than your other litigation options. And the second is: it’s a process that’s owned by you. If you go to court and litigate, you allow a stranger — who’s the judge — to determine your fate and future. In any alternative dispute resolution you typically have that ownership aspect, and it’s your choice, your agreement.

A divorce obtained through the collaborative process would likely have less impact on the children. The focus is on the family and what’s best for the family, and therefore it does tend to have a more positive aspect of it, and not having a significant negative fight involving the children. So it can be better for your children.

Both are processes to obtain a divorce in Florida. Litigation tends to be a positional and adversary process. It’s the win-lose, us-versus-them mentality. Collaborative divorce fosters relationships. It looks to strengthen relationships, seeking out the best interest of the family. It’s the win-win, us-and-we mentality.

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The collaborative divorce process benefits families because it’s not a contentious situation. It’s a process by which you come to resolution with the idea being what’s best for the family rather than what’s best for a particular party.

The collaborative divorce in Florida can be less expensive depending on the type of action that you have. It’s going to be less expensive than your hotly-contested divorces. However, it could be more expensive than a simplified or uncontested divorce. You have to remember that there is a team involved, so there are four people in the room, each who are paid an hourly rate. There’s usually between three and six meetings, so you have to do the math as to the four individuals in the room and look at it. It does tend to be less expensive than your hotly-contentious divorces.

The answer is no. They’re a necessary part of the practice. In Florida, your mental health professional is typically the team lead of the process. The financial individual, though they are paid by the hour typically save you money because it takes them less time to do the math and put together the spreadsheets.