As in many other states, divorce attorneys in Colorado Springs are often asked about the costs and benefits of mediation.  Most experienced attorneys will say it works well if you want it to, which means it cannot be entered into with a pessimistic attitude.  In order for mediation to work in a divorce, both parties need to feel like they are being heard.  One solution that has gained quite a bit of attention lately is collaborative law.  Just like mediation, collaborative law is a form of alternative dispute resolution, and it can be the perfect remedy for couples who want to stay out of court at all costs.

Divorce attorneys in Colorado Springs are becoming a lot more experienced in collaborative law and many have even begun to make it a specialty, but it is not for everyone.  One must be quite sold on the concept of mediation and their desire to remain amicable with their former spouse.  It is also very important to be very confident in your divorce attorney’s negotiation skills.

How does collaborative law work?

In a recent article by a team of prominent divorce attorneys in Colorado Springs, “Family Law and Mediation – The Truth about Collaborative Law,” the authors put together a very insightful depiction of how collaborative law works.  Basically it is a lot like mediation, except in this case the couple and their respective attorneys agree ahead of time not to let the case become adversarial.  The process actually requires them all to sign an agreement that sets forth the guidelines of the mediation.  If the couple later decides that the process is not working and chooses to pursue their divorce in court, they must fire both attorneys and start over with new ones.  For this reason, it is very important to work with experienced divorce attorneys in Colorado Springs.

In a collaborative law divorce proceeding, each spouse and their respective attorney is present throughout the mediation, with the attorneys acting as an advocate for their respective clients.   The agreement that is signed before the proceeding can begin is quite detailed, and must not be entered into lightly.  It includes language that requires the full disclosure of all financial information, complete confidentiality, and an agreement to protect the interests of any children in the marriage.  It also specifies the sharing of costs for hiring outside professionals and requires the couples to incorporate the resulting agreement into their divorce decree.

To learn more about this relatively new form of divorce mediation, read this article by divorce attorneys in Colorado Springs – “Family Law and Mediation – The Truth about Collaborative Law.”