Collaborative Divorce Negotiation Attorney in Chicago
What to Expect with the Collaborative Divorce Process
At the Law Offices of Michael L. Shevick, we give our clients options in the resolution of their divorce. Whenever possible, we encourage clients to use the tools of collaborative law, mediation, or negotiation and to reach common-sense solutions in a cost-effective manner.
Contact our Chicago law office or call 312-269-4600 to schedule a consultation with collaborative divorce attorney Michael L. Shevick.
An Informational Meeting
The first meeting is typically an informational session at which you can learn more about the collaborative divorce negotiation process. If you wish, both spouses can come to our offices to learn about collaborative family law.
If you decide you would like to pursue your divorce using the collaborative law process, only one partner will be able to hire Mr. Shevick. Each party must have their own lawyer. Mr. Shevick can recommend other attorneys who are experienced in collaborative law (not every attorney does this). You can also contact the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois for a listing of lawyers.
Private Meeting
The next session with Mr. Shevick will be a private meeting during which the attorney and client discuss the issues to consider and the decisions you will need to make about your divorce. These issues include property division and spousal support, child custody and child support. You will be asked to gather information relevant to your case.
First Collaborative Meeting
At this meeting, the two parties and the two attorneys sign the collaborative participation agreement documenting what we will be doing. We will begin the discussion talking about the needs of each party and their goals for their process. We may then move on to discuss the issues to be addressed. In some instances where the two parties already agree on many issues, this is the only meeting that will be needed. In most cases, several more meetings will be needed.
Additional Private Meetings
After every collaborative divorce negotiation, there may be one or more private meetings between the clients and their attorneys to discuss the issues raised in the joint collaborative meeting. Remember, the goal of the collaborative divorce attorney is to help the couple arrive at solutions, not to promote roadblocks so your lawyer will be advising you on ways to arrive at a reasonable, cooperative divorce resolution.
If you do not arrive at an agreement, your lawyer will be discharged and you will need to find a new lawyer. Because of this, there is less of an incentive for posturing and promoting conflict, and more realism in the process.
Additional Collaborative Sessions
One of the great benefits of the collaborative process is the availability of area specialists who can be brought in to help you understand the issues. This allows you to make better-informed decisions. For example:
- You and your spouse may wish to hire a child custody evaluator or a child psychologist to assess the needs of your child. You can then use this information when arriving at a child custody agreement.
- In high-asset divorce cases, couples may wish to hire financial experts, such as economists or business evaluators.
The Divorce Agreement
Once the two parties have arrived at an agreement on the issues of divorce, one of the attorneys will prepare a draft of the agreement. Each party will get a copy of the agreement for final approval before it is submitted to the court for approval.
We can typically get into court in a couple of weeks. It is possible to accomplish a divorce within a couple of months.
Contact Our Chicago, Illinois, Collaborative Law Firm Today
Schedule a consultation with collaborative law lawyer Michael L. Shevick. Contact our Chicago office online or call 312-269-4600. For your convenience, we accept Visa and MasterCard.
