While relatively new in Indiana, the collaborative divorce process is sweeping the national and international legal community because of its effectiveness and peaceful nature. The core of the collaborative process is the agreement of both parties and their collaboratively trained attorneys that they will not use the judge or courts to resolve their disputes. Instead, the parties meet in a series of business meetings to discuss the issues presented in their case as they work toward a settlement agreement. This process allows the divorcing spouses to control the cost and schedule of their divorce process.

The collaborative process differs from family mediation in a few key ways. Mediation involves the use of a neutral third party who facilitates a settlement discussion. The collaborative divorce process maintains the commitment to settlement as the sole agenda, but each party has quality legal advice and advocacy at all times during the process. In addition, the collaborative process allows parties to communicate with one another directly in a controlled environment. This helps to facilitate communication skills which are necessary for a future co-parenting relationship.

Indiana attorneys who practice collaborative law have completed specific, intensive training to develop the skills to approach a case from a new perspective. A collaborative divorce attorney will focus less on ‘What would a judge do’ and more on ‘What is best for this family’ in an effort to create peaceful, respectful and workable solutions.

Collaborative divorce is a voluntary process which requires the agreement of both parties to engage in a peaceful and respectful discussion process to complete the divorce. In addition, former spouses who are already divorced can use the collaborative process to discuss changes to custody, parenting time, child support and other important child-related issues. Unmarried parents can benefit from the collaborative process as they practice the communication skills necessary to successfully co-parent.

Just because a Court has issued a Child Support Order does not mean it will stay the same throughout the child’s life until he or she reaches adulthood. A change in circumstances such as a job loss, increased salary, a child no longer needing work-related childcare, a child going to college, or a change in the parenting time schedule can all impact the child support obligation. The parties’ child support order should reflect those changes.

Child Support can be modified in Indiana – depending on the facts of the case – all the way up to the point that the child is emancipated. It is important to get clear legal advice regarding a modification so that the child has the financial support of both parents. Wanzer Edwards, PC family law attorneys have extensive experience modifying child support orders, whether in cases following a divorce or following establishment of paternity.

While relatively new in Indiana, the collaborative divorce process is sweeping the national and international legal community because of its effectiveness and peaceful nature. The core of the collaborative process is the agreement of both parties and their collaboratively trained attorneys that they will not use the judge or courts to resolve their disputes. Instead, the parties meet in a series of business meetings to discuss the issues presented in their case as they work toward a settlement agreement. This process allows the divorcing spouses to control the cost and schedule of their divorce process.

The collaborative process differs from family mediation in a few key ways. Mediation involves the use of a neutral third party who facilitates a settlement discussion. The collaborative divorce process maintains the commitment to settlement as the sole agenda, but each party has quality legal advice and advocacy at all times during the process. In addition, the collaborative process allows parties to communicate with one another directly in a controlled environment. This helps to facilitate communication skills which are necessary for a future co-parenting relationship.

Indiana attorneys who practice collaborative law have completed specific, intensive training to develop the skills to approach a case from a new perspective. A collaborative divorce attorney will focus less on ‘What would a judge do’ and more on ‘What is best for this family’ in an effort to create peaceful, respectful and workable solutions.

Collaborative divorce is a voluntary process which requires the agreement of both parties to engage in a peaceful and respectful discussion process to complete the divorce. In addition, former spouses who are already divorced can use the collaborative process to discuss changes to custody, parenting time, child support and other important child-related issues. Unmarried parents can benefit from the collaborative process as they practice the communication skills necessary to successfully co-parent.

Every day parenting is full of decisions – some minor and some major. Some parents need help managing their co-parenting relationships as they face those decisions. Going to Court every time there is a disagreement between parents over day-to-day issues can be expensive and time-consuming. It can take a court weeks, if not months, to schedule a time for parents to discuss their disagreements, which makes it hard to solve day-to-day conflict.

When parenting has the tendency to become a battleground, a Parenting Coordinator (“PC”) can help. A PC is appointed by the court to assist both parents in coming to agreements that are in their children’s best interests, without taking those disagreements to the Judge. A PC is a specially trained professional who can help schedule parenting time and assist parents with communication without the need for expensive court proceedings. Meetings with a PC are scheduled according to the parents’ needs and schedules. While a PC is NOT a judge or a custody evaluator, a PC can help to mediate disputes and – in some circumstances – make decisions regarding the children to help break the tie between the parties. Wanzer Edwards offers parenting coordination services for parents experiencing difficulty working together.