Overview
At Eris Law Group, we believe that the end of a marriage doesn’t have to mean the beginning of a battle. For many families in our community, Collaborative Divorce offers a respectful, private, and empowering alternative to courtroom litigation — one that puts you and your family’s needs at the center of every decision.
Whether you’re navigating complex financial arrangements, a family business, or health challenges, our experienced collaborative attorneys are here to guide you through a process designed to protect what matters most.
What Is Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative Divorce is a voluntary, out-of-court process in which both spouses commit — in writing — to resolving all issues through honest, structured negotiation. Each person retains their own specially trained collaborative attorney, and the entire team works together in joint sessions to reach a mutually acceptable settlement.
Unlike litigation, the goal is not to “win.” It is to find workable, lasting solutions for both parties. A key feature of the collaborative model is the participation agreement: if either party withdraws from the process and chooses to go to court, both collaborative attorneys must withdraw — a powerful built-in incentive to stay at the table and reach a resolution.
The Four Pillars of Collaborative Divorce
1. Transparency
Both parties agree to share all relevant financial, personal, and family information openly. There are no surprises, no hidden assets, and no information asymmetry. This creates a foundation of trust that makes durable agreements possible.
2. Respect
Every session is structured to protect the dignity of both spouses and, above all, the children. Eris Law Group’s collaborative attorneys are trained to de-escalate tension and keep conversations focused on interests rather than positions.
3. Customization
Unlike a courtroom, where a judge applies general legal standards to your family, the collaborative process allows for creative, individualized solutions. Your agreement is built around your life — your business, your health needs, your children’s schedules, your values.
4. Privacy
Collaborative Divorce keeps your family’s most sensitive details out of public court records. For business owners, professionals, and families with complex circumstances, this privacy is often one of the most compelling reasons to choose the collaborative path.
Our Process:
The Collaborative Process: What to Expect
Here is how the process typically unfolds when you work with Eris Law Group:
- Step 1: Initial Consultation: Each spouse meets confidentially with their own collaborative attorney to discuss the process, ask questions, and assess whether this path is appropriate.
- Step 2: Signing the Participation Agreement: Both parties formally commit to the collaborative process, including the pledge not to go to court and to share all relevant information openly and voluntarily.
- Step 3: Assembling the Team Depending on your circumstances, the team may include a neutral financial specialist, a child specialist, a business valuator, a medical consultant, or a mental health professional.
- Step 4: Joint Sessions and Negotiation: The full team meets in structured sessions to work through all issues — property, support, parenting, business interests, and health-related considerations — and explore creative solutions.
- Step 5: Drafting the Settlement Agreement: Once agreement is reached, attorneys draft a comprehensive settlement document that reflects everything negotiated and ensures legal compliance.
- Step 6: Court Filing and Finalization: The finalized agreement is submitted to the court for approval. This is typically a brief, routine step — with no contested hearing and no courtroom appearance necessary.
Collaborative Divorce vs. Traditional Litigation
How does the collaborative process compare to going to court?
| Traditional Litigation | Collaborative Divorce |
|---|---|
| ✗ Adversarial — the focus is on winning | ✓ Both parties shape the outcome together |
| ✗ Judge decides your family’s future | ✓ You retain full control over the agreement |
| ✗ Public court record with personal details | ✓ Fully private — no sensitive public filings |
| ✗ Can take years and cost tens of thousands | ✓ Faster and typically more cost-effective |
| ✗ Deepens conflict; damages co-parenting | ✓ Preserves communication for long-term co-parenting |
| ✗ Rigid, court-imposed outcomes | ✓ Creative, tailored solutions for your unique family |
Meet Our Attorneys
Is Collaborative Divorce Right for You?
You may be a strong candidate for the collaborative process if one or more of the following applies:
- You have children and want to preserve your ability to co-parent effectively
- You or your spouse owns or co-owns a business
- You or a family member has significant health, disability, or special needs considerations
- You have complex financial assets, property, or international holdings
- You value privacy and want to keep sensitive details out of public records
- You want meaningful control over the outcome, rather than leaving it to a judge
- You are concerned about the financial and emotional cost of prolonged litigation
- You are willing to engage honestly and in good faith, even amid disagreement
Collaborative Divorce is not the right fit for every situation. Cases involving domestic violence, active substance abuse, or a complete inability to engage in good faith may require a different approach. Our attorneys will always be honest with you about whether collaborative process is appropriate for your circumstances.
Trusted. Recognized. Respected.
Built for Families With Complex or Unusual Circumstances
At Eris Law Group, we work with clients who bring challenges that go far beyond a standard asset split. The collaborative model is particularly well-suited to families navigating:
Dividing or restructuring a family business during divorce is one of the most complex challenges any couple can face. Courts often force a blunt result — a forced sale, a buyout, or a court-ordered division — that can destroy what you’ve spent years building.
In a collaborative setting, you can bring in a neutral financial specialist with business valuation expertise. Together, the team can explore creative arrangements: one spouse buying out the other, establishing co-ownership with clear governance rules, or structuring a phased exit — all without forcing a fire sale or damaging key business relationships.
When one spouse is managing a serious illness, disability, or chronic health condition — or when a child has special medical or developmental needs — the standard legal framework often falls short. Rigid timelines, adversarial dynamics, and inflexible court schedules can make an already painful situation unbearable.
Collaborative Divorce allows the team to slow down where needed, bring in medical or therapeutic consultants, and design parenting plans and financial arrangements that genuinely account for healthcare costs, caregiving responsibilities, long-term prognosis, and quality of life. The process adapts to your reality, not the other way around.
Real estate in multiple jurisdictions, investment portfolios, trusts, retirement accounts, overseas holdings — the collaborative process allows neutral financial professionals to join the team and ensure that every asset is properly understood, valued, and addressed in the final agreement.
Even couples with a history of conflict can benefit from collaborative divorce, provided both are willing to engage in good faith. The structured format, the presence of trained professionals, and the clear ground rules help contain conflict and channel communication productively.
Children from prior relationships, existing support obligations, stepparent bonds, and multi-household dynamics all add complexity that a one-size court ruling struggles to accommodate. Collaborative agreements can address these nuances directly.
Take the First Step With Eris Law Group
Every family’s situation is unique, and there is no single right answer for everyone. What we can promise is a candid, compassionate assessment of your options — and if collaborative divorce is the right path, a team of experienced attorneys who will guide you through it with skill and care.
We invite you to schedule a confidential consultation with Eris Law Group to learn more about the collaborative process and how it may apply to your specific circumstances.