Do you want to railroad your spouse, stress out the entire family, and run up over $20,000 of legal expenses? Maybe you enjoy wading through myriads of documents, battling it out for a year fighting over every nickel, dime, and fondue pot, taking hours out of your busy schedule to meet with your attorney, and going to court hearings that do not materialize. For the vast majority of people, the answer is a resounding "No." Litigation should always be the last resort, particularly when children are involved.

If you are headed down the path of divorce, there is a better way. You want a fair, transparent process where each person is willing to be reasonable and make concessions for the good of the family. The choices you make now will impact your and your family's future for many years. 

Collaborative divorce is an excellent, and increasingly popular, alternative to divorce litigation. By answering a few questions, you can determine for yourself whether a Collaborative Divorce would be the right fit for you. Then, call or email the Wake Law Office to make a confidential appointment with an attorney who is experienced and trained in collaborative divorce procedures. 

Collaborative Divorce empowers you with dignity, privacy, and peace of mind. You and your spouse will each have an attorney of your own choosing who is familiar with and committed to the collaborative divorce process.

• You and your spouse will sign a Collaborative Participation Agreement, to start the collaborative divorce process. This Agreement will outline the essential principals of Collaboration, which include: full, cooperative disclosures of financial information; honesty; and a commitment to working together to divorce in the healthiest way possible.
  
• You will have a team of collaborative professionals (attorneys, family counselor, and financial advisor, as needed) working with you and your spouse to provide you with expertise in each of these areas.
  
• The team will assist you and your spouse to solve your separation and divorce problems. They will counsel, guide, support and educate you as you make decisions about your future.
  
• The team will meet multiple times together to discuss all issues pertaining to your separation and divorce, review documents and information together, determine what additional information is needed, and work together to come to a mutually agreeable resolution. While there is no set schedule, most cases are resolved in five meetings or less.
  
• The process is carried out without going to court, potentially saving you and your spouse thousands of dollars that could otherwise be used for the benefit of your family.
  
• If you or your spouse decides to end the collaborative divorce process and go to court, all of the professionals on your collaborative divorce team will withdraw from your case. 

Yes, it is possible to divorce with dignity, mutual respect, and expediency.  If you would like to learn more about Collaborative Divorce and utilize this alternative to divorce through the court system, contact the Wake Law Office to make an appointment with Judy Tseng, an attorney who is experienced and trained in Collaborative Divorce procedures.