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Collaborative divorce

Resolve your divorce out of court — together.

Collaborative divorce is a private, structured process that lets you and your spouse settle the terms of your divorce respectfully, with your own attorneys guiding you and without a courtroom fight.

The basics

What is collaborative divorce?

Collaborative divorce is a way to end a marriage without going to court. You and your spouse each retain a collaborative divorce attorney, and everyone commits — in writing — to reaching a fair agreement through honest, respectful negotiation.

Rather than arguing your case to a judge, you meet in a series of focused, problem-solving sessions. When it helps, neutral experts join to provide clarity. The result is an out-of-court divorce shaped by the people who have to live with it: you.

Who’s involved

Your collaborative team

Collaborative divorce surrounds you with the right support — without ever stepping into a courtroom.

Two advocates

You and your spouse each have your own collaborative divorce attorney — someone to advise and advocate for you throughout, not a single neutral split between you.

Neutral experts, when helpful

A shared financial professional or a child specialist can join the team to bring clarity to the numbers and to your children’s needs — reducing guesswork and disagreement.

You, making the decisions

Instead of a judge deciding for you, you and your spouse craft the agreement together, with guidance every step of the way.

Why families choose it

The advantages of staying out of court

A collaborative, out-of-court divorce changes not just where decisions get made, but how it feels to make them.

  • Stays out of court and out of the public record
  • Built around your children’s well-being
  • Full, transparent exchange of financial information
  • Often faster and less costly than contested litigation
  • Preserves a workable relationship for co-parenting
  • You keep control of the final outcome

Step by step

How the process works

  1. 1

    Start with a consultation

    We talk through your situation, answer your questions, and decide together whether a collaborative approach is a good fit.

  2. 2

    Sign a participation agreement

    Everyone — both spouses and both attorneys — commits in writing to resolving things out of court and sharing information openly.

  3. 3

    Gather the full picture

    You exchange financial and other relevant information honestly, so decisions rest on facts rather than suspicion.

  4. 4

    Explore options together

    In a series of structured meetings, you identify what matters most and work through practical solutions for parenting, property, and support.

  5. 5

    Finalize your agreement

    Once you reach agreement, we prepare the paperwork and guide it through the court process so your divorce can be finalized.

Good to know

Collaborative divorce FAQ

Do we each need our own attorney?
Yes. That’s a defining feature of collaborative divorce — each of you has your own collaborative divorce attorney for guidance and advocacy. It’s different from mediation, where a single neutral helps you both.
What is the participation agreement?
It’s a written commitment by everyone involved to resolve the divorce respectfully and out of court. If the collaborative process ends without an agreement, the collaborative attorneys step aside and you continue with new counsel. That structure keeps everyone genuinely invested in finding solutions.
What can be decided collaboratively?
The same matters a court would address — parenting time and decision-making, division of property and debt, and spousal or child support — but on your terms and your timeline.
How long does it take?
It depends on the complexity of your situation and how readily agreements come together. Many families find it moves faster than contested litigation, but every case is different and we can’t promise a specific timeline.

Curious whether it fits your situation?

Tell us a little about what you’re facing. We’ll help you understand whether collaborative divorce is the right path — and what it would look like for your family.

Book a free consultationVisit Quist Homier Law PLLC