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The Benefits Of Collaborative Divorce For Kids

Sometimes there is no way to dissolve a marriage except through a litigated divorce, where the elements of the divorce decree are decided by a judge. However, especially for couples with children, this should never be your first choice. Your children want – and need – an ongoing relationship with both of you. Litigated divorces force parents to become adversaries and rehash past behavior, instead of focusing on how each person will function in altered family roles going forward. This creates a hardship for children that can and should be avoided in most cases.

Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC’s attorneys are committed to core principles that include peacemaking, creativity and empowerment. We believe that using the tools of collaborative law can promote a healthier family transition. They hold the potential to reshape family bonds instead of destroying them.

How Collaborative Divorce Works

In a collaborative divorce, each spouse selects a lawyer trained in collaborative law to represent them. The divorce agreement is drafted over several sessions in a private office – not a courtroom. The attorneys and their clients are part of a larger Collaborative Team, which can include divorce coaches, financial neutrals and child specialists. Together, the parents and the Collaborative Team work through the terms of the divorce – including property and asset division, child custody, child support, and other matters. Once the agreement is complete, your attorneys will finalize the legal document and it will be filed with the court.

Benefits For Your Family

Because it operates so differently than a litigated divorce, collaborative divorce can provide benefits that are unavailable if the parents choose a more adversarial approach. Some of the benefits include:

  • A shared focus on meeting each family member’s needs
  • Creating “win-win” agreements instead of winners and losers
  • Is focused on how the family will function in the future, not what happened in the past to cause the divorce
  • Preserves the parents’ ability to cooperate and co-parent together
  • Gives all parties a stake in abiding by the agreement, since they played a role in shaping it
  • Keeps the family’s private life out of public view (litigated divorces can be part of the public record)

Worked With An Experienced Collaborative Divorce Team

At Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC, our legal team has been serving clients in alternative divorce resolution since 1999. We understand the various challenges and legal nuances involved, so we can help you navigate every step of the process to protect you and your family going forward. For 20 years, our Pennsylvania clients have trusted our lawyers to get them the results they need.

Explore A Lower-Stress Divorce Path Today

Bring your collaborative divorce questions to Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC. All of our family law attorneys are also trained mediators. We are located in the Philadelphia suburb of Rockledge and serve clients in Montgomery and Bucks counties. To make an appointment, call us at or email us.