Maryland Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Divorce is not only a legal process, but it is also an emotional and financial transition. While courtroom litigation may focus on equitable division of your assets, as well as application of the law as it relates to other matters such as alimony and child custody, the Court is not always equipped to take the nuanced needs of your family into consideration. Collaborative divorce can offer you and your spouse a means to part ways more amicably with the help of a tailored divorce team assembled to help you resolve the specific issues in your case.

Certified Maryland collaborative divorce attorney, Shelly Ingram, is skilled in a variety of dispute resolution methods and can determine whether the collaborative process is best for you. She will listen carefully to your concerns and help you identify your goals and interests for the divorce process, as well as the future beyond it. If you decide that collaborative divorce is the right choice, the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram will advocate for you throughout the process, from assembling your collaborative team to finalizing your final divorce documents.

What is Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative divorce is a process that allows you and your spouse to negotiate the terms of your own divorce with minimal court involvement. In fact, a central feature of the collaborative process is that you, your spouse, and your collaborative team must sign a contract in which you agree to keep matters out of court. The agreement also requires transparency so that you and your spouse are free to communicate openly throughout the Maryland collaborative divorce process — knowing that nothing you say will be used against you in litigation.

You and your spouse must each have your own collaborative divorce attorney to represent your interests. However, depending on your family's needs, there are various other professionals who can also be members of your collaborative team. Specifically, a collaborative team can be comprised of the following:

  • Financial neutrals — Financial neutrals can evaluate your financial situation, needs, and options.
  • Appraisers — An appraiser can value your home, business, or other property to help determine how it should be divided in divorce.
  • Accountants — An accountant can explain the tax implications of property division and assist the spouses with creating budgets for after divorce.
  • Divorce coaches — A divorce coach can address emotional issues particular to the divorce process
  • Child specialists — Child specialists in collaborative divorce can evaluate the developmental needs of your children and resolve co-parenting challenges.

Your collaborative team adds value to the divorce process by allowing you and your spouse to have the benefit of counsel, as well as a highly qualified, skill-specific team to address all aspects of your divorce. Providing the support you need every step of the way, the Law Office of Shelley M. Ingram can assist you with creating a collaborative team that will help you achieve your objectives and resolve any disputes respectfully.

What are the Benefits of Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative divorce focuses on finding a winning solution for everyone involved. By using the collaborative divorce method, you and your spouse will be represented by your own collaborative divorce attorneys throughout the process. In regular meetings with your collaborative team, you and your spouse will have the opportunity to identify shared interests and goals. You will also be able to brainstorm options in order to reach a mutually acceptable resolution for the issues that need to be determined in your divorce.

Benefits of the collaborative divorce process can include the following:

  • Cost-effectiveness —The collaborative process reduces court costs and leads to faster resolutions, ultimately keeping the overall costs of divorce down.
  • Efficiency — Since collaborative divorce avoids lengthy litigation and encourages communication between spouses, it can help to settle disputes faster and more efficiently.
  • Amicability — By using the collaborative divorce process, you can avoid a contentious battle in the courtroom and keep your divorce amicable.
  • Confidentiality — Collaborative divorce takes place in a neutral setting, outside the courtroom. All discussions and details of the divorce remain private.
  • Customization — The collaborative process allows you and your spouse to customize the terms of your divorce and structure your settlement in a way that best fits the needs of your family, rather than let a judge decide.

Divorce is stressful. The collaborative process can make divorce less expensive than litigation, and provide a framework to resolve disputes and build positive momentum for the future. Throughout the collaborative process, spouses can learn tools for more effective communication, which can help to preserve the existing relationship. This can be critical for those who are co-parenting.

Contact an Experienced Maryland Collaborative Divorce Attorney

The Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram is committed to assisting clients with finding tailored solutions in their divorce cases. Our collaborative divorce attorneys serve clients throughout Maryland, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties for collaborative matters. Major cities we serve include Columbia, Baltimore, Bethesda and Silver Spring. To contact the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram, or to schedule a confidential office consultation with a collaborative divorce attorney, call (301) 658-7354 or contact us online. We look forward to helping you create the future you want for yourself and your family.

We invite you to review our Collaborative Divorce FAQS to learn more about the collaborative divorce process.