I have begun serving clients as part of a collaborative divorce team of legal, financial, mental health and real estate practitioners.  Collaborative practice focuses on negotiation, de-escalating conflict, improving communication and assisting clients in making decisions outside of the usual divorce litigation process. 

This means that each spouse has their own representation, but that they are client-centered rather than litigation centered.  The process emphasizes sharing information and mutually agreeing upon solutions that benefit the entire family.  It is more than a friendly negotiation, it is a defined process that attorneys and other collaborative professionals adhere to and become trained in. 

This process is very good at reducing the negative emotional and financial outcomes of divorce.  Since your home is usually your largest asset in a marriage, having a process to agree on all the financial decisions, with a financial planner, Realtor and mortgage professional plus mental health practitioners all trained in the collaborative process results in a smoother transaction.

There is special training that team members attend to understand the process and help the spouses manage all the legal aspects of ending their marriage.

If the spouses do not adhere to the collaborative agreement, then the divorce ends up in court as a regular divorce proceeding.  Since most divorces end up with a negotiated settlement anyway, often right before they go to court, this process is preferable in so many ways.

If you are interested in learning more about this process, feel free to visit the http://www.collaborativepractice.com website, or call Geoff Platnick at the law firm of Shulman Rogers at 301-237-0927 or visit his website at http://www.shulmanrogers.com/attorneys-178.html

In my next blog, I will talk about the role of the Realtor in a collaborative divorce.

Bob Myers, Graduate, Realtor Institute, is a member of the Re/Max Hall of Fame and has served buyers and sellers for 24 years in Montgomery County and Prince Georges County MD and Northern Virginia.  Visit Bob's websites for a virtual tours of properties and for more information on Montgomery County MD Real Estate at http://www.bobmyers4homes.com To search the MLS in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, Clarksburg, Potomac and other great Maryland and Virginia communities visit http://www.searchmontgomery.com .   Bob is affiliated with Re/Max Realty Services, 15020 Shady Grove Road, Suite 400, Rockville, MD, 20850.  Office phone is 240-403-0400 and you can always reach Bob on his cell phone at 301-910-9910.