The good news is that you don’t even have to go to court to finalize your divorce. There are ways to negotiate a settlement out of court. One option is to agree to a collaborative process. The first logical step to take to initiate this type of divorce is for each spouse to retain legal representation.
The collaborative divorce process was created in the 1990s. It began with two attorneys who agreed to come together on behalf of their two clients to negotiate a settlement without litigation. It worked so well that more and more spouses wanted to do the same, and it became a staple alternative option available to spouses who want to avoid going to court to finalize their divorce.
Since its inception, collaborative divorce includes spouses who wish to end their marriage, the attorneys who agree to negotiate on their behalf, and any other team members one or the other spouse wishes to include, such as a child specialist, financial adviser or divorce coach.
A collaborative divorce is like mediation in several ways. Both processes occur outside a courtroom in private settings. However, a mediated divorce typically includes a neutral third party who facilitates discussion sessions. As mentioned earlier, each spouse hires an attorney to act on his or her behalf in a collaborative divorce, which makes it different from mediation.
If you’re wondering how to approach the topic of a collaborative divorce with your spouse over litigation or other options, you might want to mention the benefits shown in the following list:
Divorce isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be an ugly, stressful process. If you and your spouse are willing to cooperate and compromise to negotiate property division, child custody and other important issues, and would like to accomplish your goals in the swiftest and most economically feasible way possible, then the collaborative process might be a good fit for you.
]]>The American Psychological Association has stated that mediation can be the basis for a healthy divorce. It occurs in a private setting where both spouses are free to speak their minds if they do so in a non-confrontational manner. This is typically a lot less stressful than airing your differences in a public courtroom setting. The APA says research shows that children whose parents use mediation to divorce have an easier time adapting to their life changes.
If you are an older couple, you might say that you have a “lot of water under the bridge” in your marriage. Through the years, you no doubt encountered numerous challenges in your relationship. It’s okay to disagree. However, if you want to keep stress to a minimum as you finalize your divorce, mediation can be beneficial. During sessions, you can invite a neutral third party to be present.
His or her job is to get you back on track if discussions veer off the path and start heading toward an argument. The mediator does not make decisions for you, as an arbitrator or judge would. Mediation is non-binding, as well, which means that, if you believe it’s not working, you cannot be forced to continue.
As a couple filing for divorce after many years, you might have acquired many assets. Financial issues will likely be a central focus of your mediation sessions. You likely have grown children who are on their own, so you won’t have the typical child custody issues to resolve that a younger couple might.
What if you’ve been meeting in a private setting in Pennsylvania to mediate your divorce, and you think it’s not working? Another benefit to the mediation process is that you can end it at any time. You can convert this type of alternative dispute resolution to a litigated case.
]]>There are 10 common errors you’ll want to avoid while navigating the child adoption process. Each of these pitfalls can cause immediate obstacles that impede your ability to finalize your adoptive child’s paperwork. In addition to knowing what errors to avoid, you’ll also want to know where to seek support if a legal problem arises.
Besides the legalities of child adoption, there are numerous other issues involved, such as expenses associated with a specific process, the health background of the biological parents and more. Failing to conduct thorough research ahead of time can cause your entire case to fall apart. It might even make it impossible for you to complete the adoption process.
Each state, including Colorado, operates under its own child adoption laws and guidelines. Even if you have adopted a child in another state, it is wise to make sure you understand this state’s laws rather than assume they are the same. Breaking a rule can not only impede the adoption process, but it can also be a safety risk for the child in question.
Colorado child adoption laws provide three primary options, including closed, semi-open and open adoptions. Each of these options pertains to the biological parents of a child and whether they will have access to the child throughout his or her childhood. Make sure you understand the rules that each option carries before choosing the one that best fits your family’s needs. Breaking the rules, such as agreeing to an open adoption and then denying a biological parent access to the child, can spark serious legal problems.
The following list shows seven additional errors you’ll want to avoid if you plan on adopting a child in Colorado or any other state:
Avoiding the 10 pitfalls of child adoption helps lay the groundwork for a smooth process carried out in accordance with Colorado adoption laws. Being mindful of these issues helps minimize stress and helps build a team of support that can be of service to you and your family throughout your adopted child’s lifetime.
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