When is collaborative divorce not appropriate?

There are lots of instances where a party ought to consider a collaborative divorce. A collaborative divorce can help parties reach a settlement outside court such that litigation may not be necessary. For many parties, this is an option that they should at least consider.

However, there are some instances where collaborative divorce is probably not appropriate. In other words, while a collaborative divorce is a positive process for many, there are some times where it likely not a good option.

Cases Where Collaborative Divorce is Not Appropriate

Take a case where there is domestic violence. In cases where there has been abuse and violence, a collaborative divorce is usually not appropriate. In these instances, there could be a safety concern in terms of informal proceedings taking place outside a courthouse with metal detectors and a court bailiff. There might also be a power imbalance due to the violence, where one party might feel as if they cannot negotiate without fear or intimidation.

Cases, where one party is moving money or engaging in other behavior that is not above-board, is likely a case where collaborative divorce is not appropriate. For a collaborative divorce to work, parties need to be engaging in good faith behavior to reach a settlement. This means that parties are not engaging in conduct that is opposite to the spirit of settlement.

If abuse or neglect of the children is being alleged, these can also be tough cases for collaborative divorce. In these instances, a guardian ad litem might be needed to investigate the best interests of the children. Sometimes, a home study or custody evaluation might also be necessary.

In other cases, one or both parties’ goals could be so unreasonable that collaborative divorce is just not practical. One should be careful not to completely throw in the towel here. In some instances in collaborative divorce, a settlement can be reached where it was once thought impossible. However, if one party wants supervised visitation for the other party with the children, or where the goals are otherwise opposed, collaborative divorce might not be a great option.

Talk to a Collaborative Divorce Professional

Nonetheless, it can still be beneficial for a party to sit down and talk with a collaborative divorce professional to help determine whether it might be a worthwhile option for their case. Many do not even consider a collaborative divorce, and simply opt for litigation, where maybe they should at least give the collaborative process a look.

If you are interested in a collaborative divorce, you can contact Stange Law Firm, PC at 855-805-0595.