Collaborative Divorce Attorneys in Polk County
The attorneys at Mint Law are experts in collaborative divorce. Why? Because we are convinced that the collaborative approach to divorce results in far more satisfying outcomes for all concerned. We have spent countless hours in the classroom learning about the latest approaches and techniques in the collaborative process. This, in turn, has led to an untold number of successful collaborative divorces overseen by the attorneys at Mint Law. What’s our secret? Through years of practice, we have learned that every person and couple is different. We therefore tailor the approach to both the individual and the couple. But what exactly is a “collaborative” divorce and how does it work?
The Typical Divorce
The typical divorce usually starts with a visit to whatever lawyer Google recommends after Googling for the “best pit bull divorce lawyer in [insert your town].” A consultation is booked and a meeting with the Pit Bull is scheduled. During this meeting, Pit Bull tells you that you need to act fast to protect your interests and that filing for divorce is a declaration of war. You ask Pit Bull what he thinks your chances are for getting sole custody of the children, permanent alimony and the family home. Pit Bull responds that he can’t promise any particular outcome because that will be up to the judge.
From there, “war” is declared through various motions and legal filings. The judge is the person that decides on the outcome of the motions. The time spent waiting on these rulings is stressful, as so much is riding on them. After months of back and forth, you begin to wear. Attorneys’ fees have really began to add up and the mental and emotional toll of motions practice has started to weigh you down. You just want this to be over, but Pit Bull predicts another 6-8 months and then a trial until all issues are settled.
How Collaborative Divorce Works
In contrast, Collaborative Divorce in Florida is a non-adversarial process designed to help couples resolve their divorce issues without going to court. The process involves a multidisciplinary team consisting of specially trained legal, financial, and mental health professionals who shepherd couples through a well-defined process that is designed to preserve the financial, emotional, relational and psychological well-being of the families involved. The team typically includes two collaborative attorneys, a mental health professional (MHP) acting as a facilitator, and a financial professional (FP). These professionals are jointly retained by the clients and act as neutral parties in the process
From the start, the entire team works together with the divorcing couple to address their concerns and define the couple’s mutually-desired outcomes. Once the outcomes or goals are defined, the team continues to work together to engineer a way to achieve the goals. When the couple has reached an agreement that aligns with their goals for the future, the lawyers turn that into a legally-enforceable contract and submit it to the a judge for approval.
The Benefits of Collaborative Divorce
The main benefit of collaborative divorce is that the couple controls the terms of the divorce. During the collaborative process, a judge will never make a ruling. Instead, the process relies on the couple – with the assistance of their team – coming to an agreement on their own terms. Once a mutually-acceptable agreement is finalized, only then will the agreement be submitted to a court. And even then, the only role a court or a judge will play is to ensure that it has jurisdiction and to enter a final judgment legally dissolving the marriage.
This generally leads to better results than traditional litigation, particularly in terms of cost, time, and emotional impact. Because the collaborative process is designed to be less adversarial and more cooperative, it can reduce the financial and emotional toll on the parties involved. With the aim of preserving a working relationship between the parties, collaborative divorce is particularly beneficial when children are involved. Overall, the collaborative divorce process in Florida is structured to provide a more amicable, efficient, and cost-effective resolution compared to traditional litigation, making it a preferable option for many couples
Mint Law Can Assist With Your Collaborative Divorce
The attorneys at Mint have assisted with countless collaborative divorces. If you have found yourself in need of a collaborative divorce attorney in Polk County, please feel free to call our offices or contact info@mintlawfirm to schedule a consultation.