Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Divorce requires that clients select: 2 Attorneys, a neutral Financial Specialist, 2 Communications Coaches and a neutral Child/Adult Child Specialist. The extent to which Mental Health Professionals are used depends on the couples’ skill set. In general, the less skilled a couple is at communicating and regulating their emotions, the more help they will need to get to the finish line. Child and Adult Child Specialists roles are filled by licensed mental health professionals. The Child or Adult Child Specialist is selected even for adult children, based on the Communication Coaches’ recommendations, to ensure the impact on adult children is fully considered. Children are given “a voice, not a choice” over decisions that belong to co-parents. Additional professionals may be included in the collaborative process if needed by a given couple.

Couples agree to select a neutral financial specialist. Each partner chooses his/her own collaborative attorney and licensed mental health professional (“Divorce Communications Coach” manages intense emotions, facilitates communication/co-parenting, and mediates the parenting plan). A neutral Child Specialist informs co-parenting, represents children’s needs, addresses the wellbeing of the children, and limits the adverse impact of divorce on children. The professional team works together following streamlined protocols to help each couple generate outcomes that suit their family’s unique needs, budgets and values.

Our Professionals – financial specialists, licensed mental health professionals and attorneys – are specifically trained in Collaborative Divorce protocols for functioning efficiently as interdisciplinary teams. You can review our biographies and select your collaborative team by calling and interviewing Virtual Divorce California Professionals. Starting the process is as simple as calling any one of us.