Sacramento, CA family law attorney Mary Molinaro talks about the collaborative divorce process. Collaborative divorce is a model for managing divorce that ensures the parties do not go to court, regardless of the circumstances. Instead, the process is conducted through a series of team meetings. One of the key benefits of the collaborative approach is that clients feel supported by a team, in contrast to litigation, where they typically have only one lawyer, or mediation, where they may not receive sufficient support.

In this model, each client is paired with an attorney and a coach, who is a mental health professional trained in collaborative law. This dual support addresses both emotional and legal aspects of the divorce. Additional team members are incorporated into meetings as needed, based on the specific requirements of the case. For example, a child specialist may be engaged to address custody issues and provide the child’s perspective, while a financial expert might be brought in to manage specific financial matters.

Team members participate at various stages of the case according to the needs identified by the team. The ultimate outcome of the collaborative process is a marital settlement agreement, which serves as a comprehensive contract detailing the parties’ arrangements for property division, support, and custody. This agreement becomes the final judgment in the divorce.