Collaborative divorce can be a kinder, less costly way to end a marriage in Ohio. Trust and transparency are the foundation of collaborative divorce—the parties and their attorneys negotiate the issues based on the information the clients share.
My role in collaborative divorce is to educate my clients on their rights and help them decide the optimal balance of give and take. I handle all the legal work, of course, but in meetings we really function as a team working toward the client’s best possible outcome.
Ohio Collaborative Divorce: The Basics
- In collaborative divorce, there is no plaintiff and no defendant. Both parties come together to legally declare that they want to end their marriage.
- A collaborative “divorce” actually ends with legal dissolution of marriage rather than divorce.
- Both parties hire their own divorce attorney to guide them through the collaborative divorce process. Meetings involve all four participants, and all must agree to communicate, reveal all assets and debts, and negotiate in good faith.
- During meetings, the parties work to resolve issues including child custody, child support, spousal support, and property division. Child and/or spousal support are based on Ohio law but can be negotiated in a different amount dependent on the needs of the parties.
- After the parties agree on the issues, the collaborative divorce attorneys draft the separation agreement. An Ohio judge then reviews and approves the terms and issues a court order to dissolve the marriage.
In general, collaborative divorce allows much more room for creativity and flexibility in resolving issues than either divorce or traditional dissolution. It also typically reduces the costs—emotionally and in time and money—to end a marriage. Lisa Sneiderman has undergone extensive training from The Center for Principled Family Advocacy so she can expertly represent her clients in the collaborative divorce process.
To learn if collaborative divorce is right for you, schedule your free consultation today.
Ohio Collaborative Divorce: Did You Know?
If an Ohio collaborative divorce process fails because the sides can’t agree, divorce is the next step. Neither divorce attorney from the failed collaborative process can participate in the divorce proceedings—the parties need to find new representation.