If you are going through a divorce, you and your partner have many options for working through your relevant issues. One such option is to pursue a collaborative divorce, an excellent way for many spouses to legally separate without heading to divorce court. You, your spouse, your collaborative lawyers, and other experts team up to negotiate the divorce terms and what things will look like going forward.
A Westport collaborative divorce lawyer can help you solve these matters without litigation in divorce court. Our team of divorce attorneys has special training in this method of problem-solving, creating possibilities, and negotiation. We can help you reach a settlement that works for those involved.
What Is a Collaborative Divorce?
As the name suggests, collaborative divorce is a structure that supports separating spouses to work together in an out-of-court setting to reach agreements. Some things that you and your spouse may need to resolve include dividing your money, property, or investments, and whether one spouse should receive alimony.
Through the collaborative divorce process, you and your spouse negotiate the terms of these and other areas to land on a settlement you agree on. For example, you might decide to sign over certain investments to your spouse, and, in exchange, you keep the marital home. When you and your spouse finalize the agreement, you may have to present it to a judge for review and approval.
Even though a collaborative divorce occurs outside of traditional court, it involves legal rights and responsibilities. You benefit from having the advice of our Westport collaborative divorce attorneys to assess your situation, attend the sessions, and help ensure that any settlement agreement you sign reflects your best interests and wishes. You’ll also have the support of your collaborative team members, like financial and child experts.
How Do You File for a Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative divorces generally start without court involvement. You meet with your Westport collaborative divorce lawyers and the rest of the team to reach a complete resolution to your divorce. After you have an entire agreement, you initiate the formal divorce with the court. This involves filing a petition with the Connecticut divorce court covering where you or your spouse lives. In this document, you and your spouse give important information about you and the marriage, such as:
- Your names, birthdates, and where you live
- Whether you and your spouse have children or are pregnant
- A statement that an irretrievable breakdown is the reason for the divorce
- Confirming you or your spouse have combined total assets that are less than $80,000 (excluding any loans or debt for the property, such as a mortgage)
During the collaborative divorce process, you and your spouse will have completed financial affidavits detailing your income, debts, expenses, and investments. These are also submitted with the divorce petition and your proposed agreement. The court reviews the documents you submit to decide if your situation is eligible for a nonadversarial divorce.
Our Westport attorneys take the time to listen to our clients to understand where they’re at and how we can use our knowledge about collaborative divorces to help. We are here for you and have the legal training to help you make the best decisions for you.
Contact a Westport Collaborative Divorce Attorney
Going through a collaborative divorce can be an excellent way for you and your spouse to end the marriage legally, keep control over the outcome, and avoid spending hours in divorce court. This avenue empowers you to work with your spouse in a structured yet informal setting.
Our steadfast team deeply understands Connecticut’s divorce laws and is trained to navigate interpersonal negotiations. We are familiar with the many elements involved in a divorce and are here to uplift our clients and advocate for their best interests. Contact a Westport collaborative divorce lawyer on our team to learn more.
