Collaborative Practice is a good process for many people. Most couples want what is best for the family as a whole, especially for the children, and want a process that minimizes the emotional and financial impact of an already difficult life event. If they want a positive post-divorce relationship, they see value in choosing a divorce process that supports that.

Collaborative Practice is not just for low-conflict families, but also for families where there is high conflict, overwhelming feelings of hurt and betrayal, addiction, mental health issues, and other complicating factors. We discuss what other professionals and resources to use in the process to help achieve a mutually agreeable settlement.

One advantage of Collaborative Practice is the availability of a professional team to support the couple. This support helps the parties make healthy long-term decisions, rather than getting caught up in the emotional turmoil of divorce, fighting, and making decisions they might later regret. The process is responsive to each family’s needs.

Having a team of Collaborative professionals support the entire family can help couples at any level of conflict resolve the issues they must address in order to dissolve their marriage successfully.

The Financial Neutral helps the couple look at all implications of their financial decisions and make the choices that best preserve resources.

The Neutral Child Specialist helps divorcing parents learn to co-parent from separate homes and to preserve what's most important to them—the well being of their children.

The Divorce Coach helps couples focus on communication, boundaries and managing emotions throughout the divorce.

The Collaborative Attorneys support the couple in crafting creative solutions to meet their family's needs, identify and maximize reaching goals, and ensuring the divorce complies with legal requirements.

Despite challenging issues, if both people are able to think about the whole family system needs, not just their own, and come to the table with flexible thinking, settlement can be reached. Cases that are typically not well suited for Collaborative Practice involve one party believing they have all the answers, that they know better than anyone, being very positional and rigid in their thinking, and lacking the ability to understand multiple perspectives.

Louise Livesay has experience helping couples dealing with all manner of challenging issues, including:

  • Addiction
  • Business interests
  • Children with special needs
  • Control and abuse issues
  • High net worth
  • Infidelity
  • LGBT issues
  • Low income and assets
  • Mental health issues
  • Significant financial disparities

Louise Livesay can review your circumstances with you and help you explore which divorce option is best for your needs.