There’s a temptation in divorce discussions to score points or lay down a marker that things weren’t your fault. It’s understandable but in most cases unhelpful
Tempting as it may be to go for an adversarial approach to divorce – whether in negotiating style or through litigation – the approach can make the process slower, more expensive and more damaging.
In contrast, a more collaborative and low-conflict approach, where ex- partners endeavour to act as ‘we’ rather than ‘I’, will usually lead to better outcomes for everyone, including children and wider family.
“Collaboration can help to detox the divorce process.”
- Having four-way sessions with collaboratively-trained lawyers offers a blend of structure and that cater for your own situation flexibility to craft arrangements – something that the narrower range of options available in a Sheriff Court are unlikely to do.
- Collaboration can help to detox the divorce process – this is really important when children are involved. The four-way process sets a more considered tone that will ideally extend beyond meetings – so children are less likely to witness emotional mayhem or family members pitted against each other.
- Future arrangements - for example, about childcare – designed through constructive and mutual agreement with your ex-partner are far more likely to stick than those imposed by a court order or through people playing hard ball.
Low-Conflict Divorce
There are various low-conflict options to choose from in divorce, using alternative dispute resolution approaches such as mediation.
An increasingly popular and well- regarded approach is collaborative divorce, where clients and their solicitors take part in ‘four-way’ settlement meetings, with a commitment to avoid resorting to litigation, even if discussions turn difficult. Other specialists, such as a financial adviser or counsellor, can also join meetings if all agree that some specialist guidance would aid progress.
If you’re interested in choosing this approach to divorce, look for a solicitor qualified in Collaborative Law.
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