How Much Will This Collaborative Divorce Cost Me?
If you and your spouse or partner have decided that it is time to look at separation or divorce, the two of you will often share the same concerns. Where will I live? How do we best protect our children? How long will this take? What is it going to cost me?
Costs to clients in the Collaborative process are much more transparent than in litigation cases. Nearly all the important work is done in meetings in which the two clients, the two lawyers, and any neutral experts that form part of the Collaborative Team get together to try to find solutions that will allow the parties to go their separate ways. If you decide to “go Collaborative” for your divorce or separation, you will see for yourself what is being done on your file.
In a Collaborative file, you have full control over the timing of the meetings and their duration, which also means you have control over the cost. Often Collaborative Family Law meetings last for between 1.5 and 2 hours. Although your matters may resolve as quickly as in two or three meetings, the average couple would likely need around four to five, depending upon the complexity of the issues to be resolved and the parties’ willingness to find creative solutions.
There is work that you will not be present for, such as preparation of the divorce documents and Minutes of Settlement, but you will see the finished product that will clearly show what work was done. The Collaborative Team may also have meetings with each other to ensure your file progresses smoothly and efficiently.
Hiring Collaboratively trained neutrals can also reduce the cost of the process. For example, rather than paying two lawyers to assist you with developing a parenting plan, the Collaborative Team may suggest you work one-on-one with the Family Specialist. If you or your spouse have a benefits package, you may be able to recover the cost of hiring a Family Specialist or a Divorce Coach.
Even if the two lawyers charge different hourly rates there are ways that you and your spouse or partner can equalize the costs so that they do not impact one person more than the other. Costs are often addressed at the first meeting in order to ensure there is a plan in place that will allow clients to see their matter through to completion without unnecessary worry.
So, what will a Collaborative Divorce cost you? The answer to this question largely rests with you. Contact a Collaboratively Trained Team Member today to find out how we can help you!
