What Happens During Your First Collaborative Divorce Meeting?
- Your first Collaborative Divorce meeting is primarily an introduction to the process, not a meeting where you and your spouse will resolve every issue.
- You will sign a Participation Agreement that formally begins the Collaborative Divorce process.
- You and your spouse will discuss immediate concerns, information that needs to be gathered, and the work required before your next meeting.
- The goal is to give you a clear understanding of the process and begin resolving issues one step at a time.
Your First Meeting Sets the Foundation
If you are considering Collaborative Divorce, you may wonder what will happen when you sit down for your first meeting with your spouse and the Collaborative team. You may hope that everything will be resolved that day, but that is not how the process is designed to work.
Your first meeting is primarily an introduction to the process and an opportunity to establish how you and your spouse will work together. Most importantly, you will sign the Participation Agreement, which is the legal contract that begins the Collaborative Divorce process.
Understanding the Participation Agreement
Before your first meeting, your attorney should review the Participation Agreement with you and explain what it means. The agreement establishes important commitments, including your agreement to voluntarily exchange financial information and not hide documents or refuse to provide information. It should also address whether the process will be confidential. You also need to understand the consequences of failing to comply with the agreement.
Identifying Immediate Concerns
Once the Collaborative Process officially begins, you and your spouse will discuss any issues that need immediate attention. There could be a pending home sale, a debt that needs to be paid, an asset that should be addressed, or an issue concerning your children. You could also have a child who needs a particular service or an opportunity to attend a different school. The Collaborative team will help you identify the issue, consider possible solutions, and work toward an agreement.
You Will Not Have Every Answer Yet
Your first meeting is not the time to divide every asset or determine every financial detail. The financial professional will gather and analyze documentation concerning your assets, liabilities, income, and expenses so you and your spouse have reliable information before making financial decisions.
Some information will take time to obtain. You may need to request bank statements, obtain records from a third party, or have a property appraised before you and your spouse are ready to decide how to divide those assets.
Planning the Next Steps
Before the first meeting ends, your Collaborative team will typically schedule the next meeting and identify the work that needs to be completed beforehand. Everyone will know what information needs to be gathered and what needs to happen before you meet again.
You and your spouse need enough information to understand your options and the consequences of your decisions before reaching agreements about finances, property, or parenting.
Your First Agreement Is a Step Forward
You may feel anxious about how long the process will take or how much it will cost. Rushing through the process may create more problems, while taking the time to gather information and understand your options will give you a stronger foundation for making decisions. When you and your spouse resolve your first issue, you have already taken an important first step toward your final agreement.
Contact the Law Offices of Robert J. Merlin
The Law Offices of Robert J. Merlin help clients understand the Collaborative Divorce Process and prepare for productive negotiations from the very beginning. To schedule a consultation, call Robert Merlin at (305) 448-1555 or contact us online.
The Law Offices of Robert J. Merlin, P.A. are located at 250 Catalonia Ave., Suite 706, Coral Gables, Florida 33134.
FAQs
Will my divorce be resolved during the first Collaborative Divorce meeting?
Probably not. The first meeting introduces the process, establishes the Participation Agreement, identifies immediate concerns, and determines what information needs to be gathered before future meetings and how to obtain that information.
What is the Collaborative Divorce Participation Agreement?
The Participation Agreement is the legal contract that begins the Collaborative Divorce process. It establishes commitments for the process, including the voluntary exchange of information and the obligation to provide relevant documents. It is the agreement that will guide you through the process.
What should I expect after the first meeting?
You will know what information needs to be gathered, what issues require attention, and when the next meeting will take place.
Bob Merlin is a Florida Bar Board Certified Family Law Specialist, he practices in the areas of divorce, time-sharing of children and parenting plans, child support, alimony, paternity, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and cohabitation/partnership agreements.
As an experienced Collaborative attorney, Bob continually hones his skills in the Collaborative Process and trains other professionals how to become a Collaborative professional as he is.
“My goal is to help divorcing and other family law clients make well-informed decisions so they experience a more efficient process and feel more in control over their futures.”
