Naperville Collaborative Divorce Lawyer

Attorneys Assisting Divorcing Spouses With the Collaborative Process in DuPage County

When you choose to end your marriage and pursue a divorce, you and your spouse will need to address a wide variety of issues related to your property, your finances, your children, and meeting your financial responsibilities, along with any other matters involved in dissolving your legal partnership. In some contested divorce cases, the only way to resolve these issues is through litigation in court, but in many situations, couples prefer to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to reach a divorce settlement. Collaborative divorce is one method of ADR that can provide spouses with many benefits.

At the Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C., our attorneys have more than 35 years of combined experience, and we have assisted many clients in resolving divorce-related issues through mediation and the collaborative law process. We can provide you with dedicated representation during your divorce, helping you understand your rights, addressing your concerns, and working to reach a divorce settlement that will allow for your ongoing success.

What Is Collaborative Divorce?

During the divorce process, spouses may agree to work together to negotiate a settlement outside of the courtroom with the help of their respective attorneys. While these negotiations may be informal, a couple can also use collaborative law to formalize this agreement and set a goal of reaching a mutually acceptable settlement.

During the collaborative divorce process, each spouse will be represented by a collaborative attorney, and the parties and their attorneys will sign a written agreement. In this agreement, they will state their desires to resolve matters without going to court, and they will make a commitment to treat each other with mutual respect and fully disclose any information requested by either party.

After signing the agreement, the spouses will then work together to resolve all of their outstanding legal issues. During the negotiations, they may hire a variety of experts to assist in reaching a resolution, including:

• Divorce coach - A mental health professional may work with the parties to identify and address emotional issues or other concerns that could impede progress in reaching agreements.
• Financial specialist - Accountants or financial appraisers can help determine the value of marital property, including assets such as businesses or professional practices, real estate, or retirement accounts and pensions. They can also identify tax concerns and address other financial issues involved in the divorce.
• Child specialist - A mental health professional with a focus on child development can work with divorcing parents to identify their children's needs and desires and help create a parenting plan that will provide for their family's ongoing success.

The ultimate goal of a collaborative divorce is to create a settlement that fully addresses the decisions that need to be made to dissolve the couple's marriage. As part of the collaborative divorce agreement, the spouses' attorneys will state that they will withdraw from the case if the couple is unable to reach a settlement and litigation becomes necessary. This provides the parties and their attorneys with the incentive to reach a settlement and avoid the additional costs of hiring new attorneys to resolve matters in the courtroom.

Contact a Will County Collaborative Law Attorney

Collaborative divorce can allow a couple to successfully negotiate a settlement that meets their needs and protects their children's best interests. However, it may not be the best choice for some couples, especially those in high-conflict situations. If you would like to know more about the collaborative divorce process, or if you have any questions about your options for resolving divorce-related issues, contact the Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C. at 815-722-7050 or 630-355-7776 to set up a free consultation. We provide legal representation to divorcing spouses at the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton, the Kendall County courthouse in Yorkville, the Kane County courthouse in St. Charles, and the Will County courthouse in Joliet.