The key difference between Collaborative Practice and conventional divorce is the pledge to reach an agreement collaboratively without litigation. You and your spouse decide what is best for your family not a judge. All of the participants agree to be part of a respectful process that leads to an out-of-court resolution.
rThe end of a marriage can be a very difficult, painful process. Traditional divorce often only adds to the pain. You and your partner may come to see each other as adversaries and the divorce as a battleground with feelings of confusion, anger, loss, and conflict.
rCollaborative Practice is based upon three principles:
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- A pledge not to got to court r
- An honest exchange of information by both spouses r
- A solution that takes into account the highest priorities of both adults and their children. r
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Mutual respect is fundamental to the collaborative way. You may cease being spouses, but you don’t cease being worthy human beings and parents. When respect is given and received, discussions are likely to be productive and an agreement reached more readily.
rThe Anne Arundel Collaborative Professionals, Inc. is composed of specially trained lawyers, divorce coaches, child specialists, and financial professionals. Our mission is to provide families in conflict with a peaceful, dignified, and respectful alternative to the traditional adversarial divorce process, and to establish Collaborative Practice as the preferred method for resolving family law disputes in the State of Maryland. To learn more about Collaborative Practice go to www.anne-arundel-collaborative.com, or to the website of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) at www.collaborativepractice.com. (Portions of this article were provided by the IACP with their permission.)
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Anne Arundel Collaborative Professionals, Inc.
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