Getting Your Spouse to Agree to the Collaborative Divorce Process
The best way to get your spouse to agree to a collaborative process is in the very beginning. Try to take the approach of having your spouse explore the Collaborative option with you. Go over the compelling reasons for the collaborative approach with your spouse.
1) The two of you are in control of the outcome
2) Collaborative method generally costs less than litigation
3) Collaborative lawyers work for settlement and do not go to court – therefore, they do not approach the divorce process in an adversarial way
4) The process makes it much easier for you and your spouse to maintain ongoing relationships ( some of my clients even live in the same house during the whole divorce process)
5) If you have children, it keeps them out of the conflict and the conflict to a minimum.
Share written information with your spouse. There are lots of news and magazine articles you can find on the Internet. Try to explain a “smart” divorce in your own words. Call my office for a free collaborative brochure. I will be happy to send you one so you can share it with your spouse. Or if you prefer after an initial consultation with me, I can write a letter to your spouse explaining the process. The key is education. Most people don’t know the collaborative divorce process exists and if they go to an attorney that is not trained in the process then they may never find out.
To reach The Law Office of Shannon M. Sears, P.C., please call 817-442-9880 or 214-709-3409
