Collaborative Divorce in Michigan
What Is Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative divorce in Michigan is a voluntary process where spouses and their attorneys commit in writing to resolve every issue prior to filing their lawsuit in court. Meetings focus on open communication, transparency, and problem solving. Neutral professionals, such as financial specialists or child consultants, may join the team to help craft an agreement that fits your family. Paul S. Kowal, P.C. supports this cooperative model for couples in Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, Macomb Township, and Washington Township in Macomb County and from Troy to Clarkston in Oakland County for couples who want to safeguard their family from the adversity and turmoil often associated with divorce.
Benefits of a Collaborative Path
You stay in control
Decisions are made by you and your spouse rather than by a judge, allowing creative solutions that reflect your goals and strongly supports remaining a family living in two households, which greatly benefits your children.
Privacy and respect
Conversations happen in private sessions, not public courtrooms. A respectful tone helps reduce stress during a difficult season.
Team support where needed
Access to neutral professionals can streamline resolving financial matters, optimizing parenting plans, and bettering communication so meetings stay productive.
Can be cost-effective
Avoiding trial preparation and repeated court dates often reduces total costs while improving the quality of the final agreement.
Our Collaborative Divorce Services
Paul S. Kowal, P.C. represents clients within the collaborative framework by setting clear priorities, preparing the necessary disclosures, and guiding four-way meetings that keep discussions on track. We coordinate with other collaborative professionals in Macomb and Oakland Counties to help the process move steadily toward a durable, court-ready agreement.
How Collaborative Divorce Works
Participation agreement
Both spouses and their attorneys sign a commitment to resolve matters prior to filing their lawsuit in court.
Joint meetings
Structured sessions address property division, parenting plans, support, and any special concerns related to school, work commutes, or housing in the Southeast Michigan area.
Final agreement
Once terms are set, the attorneys prepare documents for submission to the court so the divorce can be finalized without adversarial, family dividing, litigation.
FAQs: Collaborative Divorce
How is collaborative divorce different from mediation?
In mediation, a neutral facilitates discussions and hopefully, a lasting settlement agreement for the parties. In collaboration, each spouse has an attorney for support, to help them and a team of neutral experts that they select to facilitate settlement of their divorce.
What happens if we do not reach agreement?
If collaboration ends, both collaborative attorneys must withdraw, and the spouses hire new counsel for litigation.
Is collaborative divorce right for us?
Collaborative divorce works best when both spouses value privacy, want to preserve co-parenting relationships, and are willing to be transparent about finances. Couples in Macomb and Oakland Counties often choose collaborative divorce to avoid repeated visits to courthouses in Mt. Clemens and Pontiac, respectively.
Choose the Collaborative Path
If you want to resolve your case outside of court, Paul S. Kowal, P.C. can help you start strong and stay focused. Call (586) 731-3012 to talk through whether collaboration fits your situation.