Sacramento, CA family law attorney Mary Molinaro talks about the cost of a collaborative divorce compared to a regular divorce. In most cases, collaborative law tends to be less expensive overall. It is a front-loaded process, where clients pay retainers for their professionals at the beginning. By contrast, in litigation, clients typically start by paying only their attorney, and additional experts or valuation specialists are hired as needed, driving up costs as the case approaches trial. Although collaborative law requires more upfront costs, it often culminates in a marital settlement agreement—a contract addressing all aspects of the divorce, including custody, child and spousal support, and property division.

In Sacramento, a new initiative aims to make collaborative law more accessible. This effort includes developing alternative models and packages to allow more people to participate in the collaborative process.