The children in a couple’s divorce can become the unintended victims of suffering, having the least ability and experience to cope with personal and emotional distress. However, there is a healthier and more effective process that separating parents can use to divorce, where they are always in charge of their own mutually agreed upon resolution. This is called the Collaborative Divorce Process, and it actually has many benefits for children. We will describe the benefits and how they work, along with resources for your child that you as a separating parent can use.

There are many benefits to children when their parents use the collaborative divorce and mediation-like process:

• A healthier way to address your child’s needs: The collaborative divorce method is designed to be non-adversarial, or keep opposition out of the way of peacefully and respectfully settling a divorce. The process allows for the two parties to work together to create mutually beneficial settlements, encouraged by respectful dialogue and a cooperative, problem-solving approach. With this goal in mind, focus can then be placed on the needs of the children and how the parties can provide for those needs post-divorce. This keeps the children out of the middle of the conflict, reducing any added stressors they are already facing due to their parents separating.

• Reduces conflict: With court-based divorce, the resentful and hostile environment created can have a more negative impact on your children than the divorce itself. With a low-conflict collaborative divorce that takes place in a peaceful environment, your children can actually better adjust to the changes ahead of them. This method allows you and your ex-spouse to resolve your issues together, with a professional attorney and coach there for you on each side.

• Promotes emotional stability: It can be easy to bring the conflict of a court-room battle home to your children, causing them to lose their ability to cope with the divorçe. Collaborative divorce promotes calm and level-headed discussions that allow you to stay strong emotionally to take better care of your children, and your demonstrated positivity can help them with their own emotional transition.

• Resolves financial issues: Collaborative divorce is more economical in many ways, giving you the opportunity to fairly divide your assets to benefit yourself and your children for their future stability.

• Encourages co-parenting: The collaborative divorce mentality promotes that your former spouse is more than just an ex, but a co-parent to always be there for your kids. You will be given the opportunity to work together and solve problems as they arise, so you’ll have more chances to make your kids happy when they see you together at their personal activities and family events.

• Offers creative solutions: Collaborative divorce encourages the separated parties to use creativity to resolve challenges relating to child custody, visitation, and more.

Emotional Support Resources For Your Child: 

Child inclusive: In some cases, a child specialist will meet with the children to provide feedback to the collaborative team and parties. This is important because they are meeting in a neutral environment to provide feedback and information to help create a support plan for the children in the collaborative divorce process. This mental health professional can assess the feelings and needs of the child to help them feel a sense of support. They can also inform the parents of their child’s concerns and desires so these can be worked into the final parenting plan.

About Nevada Collaborative Divorce Professionals

NCDP professionals work together to help contesting parties resolve their disagreements efficiently and respectfully outside of court. Our team works as a filter to keep legal, emotional, financial, property, and child custody matters from hindering a resolution that is fair and acceptable to both divorcing parties and any children. NCDP’s team is composed of divorce lawyers, mental health, and financial professionals based out of Northern Nevada cities Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Minden/Gardnerville. We can help your conflicts become resolved without going to court by negotiating mutually acceptable settlements.

Our Melissa Exline, Vice President since 2016, focuses on divorce and custody cases and works with clients to reach an amicable resolution. She takes an honest, straight-forward approach to family law, always putting children first when custody is a high priority. A member of the Nevada Justice Association, you can find Melissa at Surratt Law Practice in Reno, Nevada.

We at Nevada Collaborative Divorce Professionals believe that when mutual respect and a resolve to manage differences are maintained through cooperative divorce, moving forward has a realistic basis for success. With the more positive process this method promotes, new beginnings and opportunities take root more quickly. Contact us today and see how our team can help your divorce stay out of courtroom litigation!