Traditional Litigation: Each  spouse typically hires an attorney and proceeds to bring any issue that  they cannot resolve with their attorneys during a private meeting to  court.  The spouse will have to wait for a court date for each issue  that needs to be solved, which furthers the process.  The lack of  communication between both spouses tends to create more tension, hurt  feelings and resentment, leading to vengeance.  Litigation tends to take  2-3 years, and within those 3 years attorney costs need to be  considered.
 

Collaborative Mediation: This  process involves each spouse hiring their own attorneys, but also  hiring a mental health professional (with the qualifications of  collaboration and mediation certification) and a financial analyst.  The  spouses and their 2 attorneys decide on a general amount of times they  will need to meet as a group and then proceed from there to discuss the  important decisions that have to be made regarding the divorce.  By  meeting outside of the court system, in a private setting, with the  support of a mental health coach, a CPA, and 2 attorneys, the spouses  have the ability to resolve important matters, while staying focused on  the issues at hand instead of letting hurt feelings and resentment  control their decisions.  Collaborative Mediation takes less time than  traditional litigation because couples are able to hash out their issues  during the collaborative meetings, which means less time spent in the  courthouse, waiting for a court date, and meeting individually with the  attorney.  The most important aspect about collaborative divorce  mediation is that the divorcing couple makes all of the decisions about  their futures, property, children, pets, homes, finances, etc.  This  process is all about the couple, and it is up to them to show up and  work collaboratively in order to have a successful civil divorce.
 

* This  process can also work for couples who are not legally married but who  are separating or who share children and assets and would like to  collaboratively decide on a custody agreement or financial agreement  without involving the court system.