Some readers from the Chicago area may be interested in learning more about collaborative divorce. About one out of every two marriages ends in divorce, and the ratio may increase with each subsequent marriage after the first. Though many divorces tend to be emotional and highly contentious affairs, it is possible for clients to achieve legal separation without the need for adversarial litigation.
How does collaborative divorce work?
As many Illinois residents may already know, when a couple brings their divorce before a judge, the outcome will be based on standard formulas and may not accurately reflect an individual family's needs and wishes. In rare cases, couples may be able to agree on all the terms of their divorce and may only require help with their paperwork. In others, couples cannot agree on a single issue and will need to have the case litigated to settle their divorce.
Collaboration may make divorce easier
Illinois residents who may be contemplating divorce know that this process is not always smooth. The transition from marriage to separation requires making many important and often difficult decisions. Sometimes the divorce process is amicable, with both spouses working toward a fair dissolution, and other times the process is anything but friendly.
A simple way to handle a divorce
Divorce cases can use collaborative law in many instances. The Uniform Collaborative Law Act was adopted in 2009 by the Uniform Law Commission and is available to be practiced in any state, including Illinois. Collaborative law is simply the idea that couples work out their own settlement, often with the help of an attorney, and avoid a court proceeding that may well not work out in a fashion that makes either party happy.
Divorcing couples try collaborative efforts to ease stress
Couples heading for divorce court in Illinois may want to take advantage of a new method for settling their differences and coming to an amicable agreement. According to many experts, collaborative divorce may help the family to move forward with their lives unencumbered with the usual tension that affects everyone involved in a more typical divorce battle.
The benefits of collaborative divorce
Chicago residents considering an end to their marriage may be unfamiliar with the collaborative approach to divorce. A collaborative divorce is not the same thing as a divorce involving a mediator; in a collaborative approach, each spouse has an attorney, and the ultimate aim is a peaceful resolution that satisfies everyone involved. Most collaborative divorces can be completed in under a year, and they are generally cheaper than divorces that get tied up in litigation as well.
How Illinois couples could end their marriage with integrity
When a couple decides to end their marriage, the decision is often one-sided. One of the partners may want the divorce while the other is oblivious to the apparent issues. Regardless of the reason, many spouses wish to terminate the commitment of monogamy with integrity and respect for the other spouse. The subject becomes even more important when children are involved. Parents, who live in Illinois, may be interested to learn some important tips on how to leave their partner with dignity and consideration for their feelings.
Need for collaboration may not end with divorce
Illinois residents may find a recently published article regarding the long-term effects of divorce to be of some interest. Its author cites work conducted by two men employed at the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, both of whom are recognized as being experts in collaborative law and divorce mediation. Although many people believe that divorces mark the end of the family unit, the men propose a different hypothesis that could prove illuminating.
Mediation that can help the get crisis
Orthodox Jews in Chicago who want to be recognized as divorced by the Jewish community must rely on acquiring a "get," which is granted at the sole discretion of the husband. However, many women may wait months and years for the get. The number of women waiting for a get is on the rise. This has caused some women to suffer financially or give up custody in order for the husband to agree to a get. Mediation may be able to help some couples execute a collaborative divorce that also provides a get. It serves as an alternative from the court system and rabbinical courts.
Divorce doesn't have to be a war
Illinois divorcees may be interested in hearing about a trend of separated couples trying to get along with their ex-spouses. In may cases where minor children are involved, the couple wants to use a process called collaborative divorce. This process allows them to create agreements outside of court that suit the family's specific needs.
