Collaborative Divorce – A Team of Professionals By Your Side
0 Comment
by Sharon Klempner, MSW, LCSW, BCD Divorce is almost never easy, especially when children are involved. So many things need to be considered and resolved.... Read More
What is Collaborative Divorce?
Learn more about the collaborative process and how it reduces conflict saves money and protects the dignity of the family.
FAQs About Collaborative Divorce
Learn more about collaborative law and the most commonly asked questions.
Find a Collaborative Professional
Do you need to find a collaborative trained attorney, financial professional, or divorce coach? Get started here to find a collaborative practitioner near you!
Using Collaborative Divorce Practices to Achieve Resolution
Marriages that End in Divorce Need Not End in a Courtroom
Divorces are as varied and complex as the individuals involved; temperaments, family and financial obligations, and the disposition of assets can combine to create overwhelming stress, fear and anxiety. Too often, the trauma created in certain divorces is accepted as the inevitable “norm” for ending a marriage.
It does not have to be this way.
Non-adversarial in nature, the goal of collaborative law is to minimize the conflict that is prevalent in so many traditional divorces. Instead of conflict, the collaboratively trained interdisciplinary team uses cooperation and communication to achieve a mutually satisfactory agreement. Instead of competing attorneys controlling the process, the divorcing couple determines both the process the professionals, and the outcome. Entry into the collaborative law process can be accomplished through either the mental health professionals, financial advisors or the attorneys. Because collaborative law places such a heavy emphasis on addressing the emotional needs of the children, mental health practitioners that specialize in counseling children play a particularly important role in this approach.
Who We Are
The New Jersey Council of Collaborative Practice Groups (NJCCPG) supports excellence among the community of collaborative divorce professionals, and promotes and expands the use of quality Collaborative Practice throughout New Jersey.
The Council serves as a unified voice and central resource for education, training, networking and development of standards of practice as well as expanding public and professional awareness.
Our Mission and EventsNJ Practice Groups
- Association for the Advancement of Collaborative Practice (Website Under Construction)
- Collaborative Divorce Association of North Jersey
- Collaborative Divorce Professionals
- Mid-Jersey Collaborative Law Alliance
- Monmouth County Collaborative Divorce & Mediation Professionals
- Family Focused Divorce
- New Jersey Collaborative Law Group
- South Jersey Collaborative Divorce Professionals
Recent Articles
Read All Articles 2018 Annual Meeting Which Featured Ron Ousky, Esq.
On Thursday, May 3, 2018, the New Jersey Council of Collaborative Practice Groups (NJCCPG) had the pleasure of hosting speaker Ron Ousky, co-author of The... Read More
Mid Jersey Collaborative Law Alliance Annual Retreat
The MJCLA had a 1 ½ day retreat at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg NJ on March 4-5. We had Loretta “Lori” Gephart, MA do... Read More
Facebook Posts
COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE – A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS BY YOUR SIDE
by Sharon Klempner, MSW, LCSW, BCD
Divorce is almost never easy, especially when children are involved. So many things need to be considered and resolved.
Until 25 years ago, couples dissolving their relationship had no choice but to litigate, possibly going before a judge who made their disputed decisions for them. Next, the method of mediation, with a neutral mediator who could offer information but not advice or opinions, became more prevalent. Clients had to negotiate for themselves. Then came collaborative divorce, a newer method of alternative dispute resolution, chosen by savvy couples who want to make their own decisions. Each spouse/partner has his/her own attorney, to advocate for them in an open and civil manner, and each spouse/partner signs an Agreement to not go to Court, keeping control over the outcome and maintaining privacy.
Over the years, the collaborative process evolved to the establishment of a professional organization, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals [IACP]. It now has 5000 collaborative professionals, providing services in 25 countries. On September 10, 2014, Governor Christie signed into law the New Jersey Collaborative Family Law Act which took effect on December 9, 2014. New Jersey collaborative professionals are proud to be in the vanguard of helping couples dissolve their partnership/divorce in a non-adversarial manner to preserve the sanctity of the family, in two homes.
Consumers need to ask attorneys, who claim to be collaborative attorneys, if they are a member of the IACP and, if so, if they have completed collaborative trainings. There are nine collaborative practice groups throughout New Jersey. The Collaborative Divorce Association of North Jersey, for example, requires its members to have 40 hours of mediation training, in addition to training in collaborative divorce. Their members have continued advanced training each year to maintain and expand their skills.
In addition to attorneys, a collaborative divorce team often includes a mental health professional and a financial neutral. Licensed mental health professionals serve in any of the following roles: as a facilitator, to keep the process on a good ‘emotional track’, or as a divorce coach, to help couples to cope with and overcome the emotional obstacles to a more dignified divorce or dissolution of their partnership. A child specialist is a licensed clinical mental health professional who works with children and understands the dilemma of divorce for children, of all ages. He/she meets with the parents and children, briefly, to help the parents understand their children’s needs and wishes. Children often don’t tell their parents all that they are feeling because they don’t want to anger or hurt them. Although the facilitator, coach and child specialist are licensed mental health professionals, they are NOT offering therapy in collaborative divorce. They do utilize their clinical skills to guide parents and children in navigating the muddy waters of the family in change.
Licensed collaborative financial professionals are on hand to protect family’s interests by reviewing assets, debt and incomes to develop viable options for the future. They are skilled not only in dealing with numbers but are sensitive to the emotional needs of couples who are coming apart.
The collaborative team approach offers couples professionals with specific areas of expertise in divorce. For example, a couple would not be paying attorney fees, when addressing issues that have to do solely with emotions or communication which are handled by mental health practitioners, at a lower fee. The collaborative team is a well-oiled machine with each professional serving his/her specific role and communicating with other team members to offer a more comprehensive way of addressing the multitude of issues that arise.
Why Select Collaborative Divorce?
• Cost – collaborative law is typically less costly than a traditional divorce. It focuses on directly resolving issues instead of extended litigation.
• Confidentiality – in a private office, not in the courtroom
• Personal attention – there’s no judge reviewing documents and making decisions for you. You work directly with collaborative professionals who are dedicated to helping you both to create a plan that’s right for your unique situation and family.
• Convenience – There is no court schedule. Collaborative professionals work around your time frame and respect your emotional readiness to continue or take a breather if you need one.
• Specific expertise – a team of divorce experts with specialized training and experience is available to most efficiently address your family situation.
• Family Focused – The collaborative method helps you protect your children from damaging fallout of a contentious divorce. The goal is to preserve parents’ mutual respect to ensure cooperative co-parenting, crucial to children’s development.
By choosing the collaborative method, couples benefit from the professionals’ dedication to establish effective and respectful co-parenting. This process helps families to adapt to their new situation and be able to thrive. After the divorce is over, team members are available, to advise on issues post-divorce or to revise any aspect of the Agreement.
About The Author
Sharon Klempner, MSW, LCSW, BCD is a psychotherapist with an office in Ridgewood. She sees children, adolescents, adults and couples. She is a mediator, collaborative coach and child specialist as well as a stepfamily counselor, reunification therapist and parenting coordinator.
On Wednesday evening members of Collaborative Divorce Professionals and Monmouth County Collaborative Divorce and Mediation Professionals attended a deep listening training seminar with Valerie Brown, of Lead Smart. Listening is a vital and overlooked leadership skill and the cornerstone of building trustworthy relationships. As a collaboratively trained professional, it is essential to have skills to build relationships, to communicate effectively, and to inspire trust. The goal of this professional development two and half hour workshop was to enhance listening skills as a grounded, energized, focused, and trustworthy leader.
www.forbes.com/sites/heatherlocus/2018/07/08/my-big-fat-divorce-learning-about-your-options-throu...
My Big Fat Divorce: Learning About Your Options Through The Ending Of A Hollywood Marriage
forbes.com
"The War of the Roses" or divorcing with dignity, which will you and your spouse pick? There are three divorce processes couples can select from. Each path is unique but how you get there varies widel...