Collaborative Divorce Blogs & Articles

Divorce Doesn’t Have to be Destructive

Divorce Doesn’t Have to be Destructive

The Cambridge Dictionary website defines Collaboration as – The situation of two or more people working together to create or achieve the same thing.

The Business Dictionary website gives a similar description – Cooperative arrangement in which two or more parties (which may or may not have any previous relationship) work jointly towards a common goal.

No matter which way you definite it, the word Collaboration ends with the same simple but powerful message. People working together to achieve a common goal.

Divorce doesn’t have to be a battle, pitting West Michigan spouse against spouse with their children stuck in the center of the fight. There doesn’t have to be a winner or loser, and assets don’t need to be treated like the spoils of war.

There is another way.

Collaborative Divorce is becoming much more common today, providing a way that couples can bring their marriage to a close without the stress, expense, and potentially combative environment that is common with traditional divorce cases.

Instead of hiring divorce attorneys to litigate their case, Collaborative Divorce provides family law attorneys a path forward which keeps the case out of the courts. The result is a more respectful and private outcome that can even preserve family relationships and ensure both parties can effectively co-parent their children once the process is complete.

Instead of placing decisions in the hands of judges and court systems, Collaborative Divorce gives couples the option of working with a team of professionals trained in Collaborative Practice. Spouses who have decided to divorce, using the Collaborative process, work with financial specialists, mental health professionals and family law attorneys to work toward their common goals. This process also makes their children’s security a top priority.

The experienced team at Johnsen Wikander are trained in Collaborative Divorce and welcome the opportunity to handle your divorce case with mutual respect and consideration. Please contact us today to discuss the options available to you during this difficult time– options which focus on the family and the future such as Collaborative Divorce.

Collaborative Divorce FAQs | Johnsen Wikander P.C. West Michigan Divorce Attorneys

Collaborative Divorce FAQs

If you and your spouse have decided to get a divorce, there are likely countless questions pouring through your mind. Through our careers in family law, we have helped people from all walks of life find answers to some of those questions. Our attorneys are trained as Collaborative Divorce attorneys, and we have experienced how beneficial the process can be for people.
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Family Photos Remain Important for Divorced Couple | Johnsen Wikander P.C. West Michigan Divorce Attorneys

Family Photos Remain Important for Divorced Couple

Part of our philosophy as divorce attorneys is to work compassionately with couples who are willing to work with each other. This looks differently for every case we handle, as every relationship is unique, and certainly does not always change or lessen the emotional wear and tear caused by a divorce.

One Alaskan woman has recently gotten a lot of attention for a non-traditional decision she made with her now ex-spouse following their divorce. Victoria and her former husband, Adam, have a son and continue to take photos together even though they have split. Read more

The Pros of Collaborative Divorce | Johnsen Wikander P.C. West Michigan Divorce Attorneys

The Pros of Collaborative Divorce

Going through a divorce does not always have to be a messy process. Many people have a friend or family member they know that went through a long, exhaustive divorce that drained resources and left all parties with a bitter sense of resentment. While some cases require litigation, working through a Collaborative divorce can be a great option. Read more

Divorcing parents don’t always have to sort through their issues in court

When divorcing spouses do not see eye-to-eye, children involved often get caught in the cross-hairs. While husband and wife may be at odds over a variety of topics, dealing with child custody and parenting plans often become the primary battles. Read more

Uniform Collaborative Law Act

On May 1st I went to Lansing to testify on behalf of the Uniform Collaborative Law Act (“UCLA”). I testified in my role as President of the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan (“CPIM”). The UCLA has been passed in seven states and the District of Columbia. It is currently pending in eight states, including Michigan. Read more

Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan | Johnsen Wikander Divorce Attorneys

Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan

Last month I went to Lansing as President of the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan which is the statewide organization for Collaborative professionals. I was there to testify in support of the Uniform Collaborative Law Act. Three of us attended the State Senate Judiciary Committee meeting prepared to testify but our lobbyists informed us that we had all the votes we needed to pass the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. Read more

Child Support Options in the Collaborative Process

Whenever there are minor children one issue that must be addressed, whether a case is collaborative or not, is child-support. Obviously it costs money to raise children.

In the litigation realm generally the information requested by the Michigan Child Support Foundation (i.e. incomes, tax status, overnights, medical insurance for children, and childcare) is put into the state approved software and a for child support number is generated. This number reduces as each child reaches age eighteen or graduates from high school, whichever is later. Also there is a formula for paying children’s medical expenses. Read more