Austin Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Near You

Collaborative law is only available to the parties to a divorce. Your nearby Austin divorce lawyer can tell you more about how this works. Collaborative divorce in Austin requires the parties to contractually agree not to go to court. Therefore, if a petition for divorce has already been filed, it must be dismissed before a collaborative divorce can proceed. If after the collaboration has begun, one of the parties decides to file a petition for divorce, the collaborative attorneys for both parties will withdraw from the case.

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Choosing an Austin Divorce Lawyer for a Collaborative Divorce

Many people find Austin, Texas collaborative divorce appealing because it eliminates the adversarial feel of a traditional divorce. Discovery is voluntary which makes the process very transparent. Additionally, collaborative divorce emphasizes interest-based negotiation. Both parties benefit from entering into a Texas collaborative divorce agreement. You truly do not have to worry about confrontation when working through a collaborative divorce like you would if the case went to court. Taking divorce to court only makes things more stressful for you and your spouse.

austin divorce attorneySigning Agreements to Initiate the Collaborative Divorce Process

Once the parties have signed the agreement to participate in the collaborative divorce process, they will schedule meetings that have very specific agendas. For instance, the parties might agree that at the first meeting they will discuss child custody and visitation, at the second meeting they will discuss child support and spousal maintenance, and at the third meeting, they will discuss the division of assets and liabilities.

Detailed minutes of each meeting will be taken. It is important that both parties stick to the schedule outlined in the agreement. Springing a new topic on your spouse during one of the meetings is never a good idea. It can create a stressful situation and lead to a lot of tension. It might also force your spouse to exit the agreement in the hopes that the case moves to the family law court. Having a nearby Austin local divorce lawyer, like Eric M. Willie, can certainly ease a bit of the anxiety often encountered when starting this process, particularly in its most inchoate phases.

Delegation of Participation During a Collaborative Divorce


Collaborative divorce gives each party an opportunity to express their respective interests and goals as well as their preferred means of attaining those goals. If interim issues arise as a result of negotiations, those issues are added to the agenda and addressed accordingly. You have no reason to worry about adding a topic to the agenda. Just be sure to request an addition with your attorney so it can be done properly. Trying to sneak a new topic into the discussion without first notifying your spouse can lead to a lot of problems.

Using a Divorce Lawyer to Achieve an Austin Collaborative Divorce Outcome

Additionally, collaborative divorce gives the parties an opportunity to agree upon which documents they’ll produce and when those documents will be produced. Only after each party is comfortable that he or she has received all the documentation and information necessary to make a decision do negotiations begin. At this stage, options for resolution of the issues are presented and each side is given a chance to express why he believes each option will or will not work for him.

The ultimate goal is to agree on options that each party feels best to serve his or her interests when working with a divorce law firm near you in Austin, Texas. You can resolve just about any issue that crops up in your divorce or that was present during your marriage. This includes issues with artwork, other collections, cars, rental properties, and any other piece of property the two of you owned as a couple. Once all issues have been resolved, the attorneys work together to draft the decree, which the parties sign and present to the court for entry of a final order. Once the decree is approved by the court, you and your spouse are now divorced.

Third-Party Input and Additional Support from an Austin Divorce Lawyer Near You

Collaborative divorces allow the parties to employ the services of third parties such as financial neutrals and communication coaches. This gives the process a “team” feel and helps the parties deal with issues that can otherwise be very emotional and explosive in a more constructive and productive manner. Legitimately working as a team makes going through a divorce as best as it can be based on your situation. Having the help and support of professionals other than your Austin collaborative divorce lawyer near you can make it easier to navigate the divorce process and reach a solution.

Contact an Experienced Austin Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Near You

eric m. willie
Are you considering filing for divorce in Austin, Texas? It’s in your best interest to speak with a divorce lawyer in Austin, Texas near you as soon as possible about your situation. Collaborative divorce is a challenging area of the law that should only be handled by an experienced attorney. Contact Austin collaborative lawyer at The Law Office of Willie & Dasher by calling 512-478-0834 to schedule a consultation with a member of our team. You need to protect your rights in an Austin divorce so that you can retain the property that means the most to you.

Austin Divorce Lawyer Review

“Eric was an amazing help. I called his office and within minutes received a call back from Eric. I spoke to him about my situation and my concerns.Within a few minutes later he looked over my 50 page divorce papers and was able to answer all my questions and concerns with confidence. I’m extremely grateful for all his help and information. Thank you Eric. I would definitely recommend to everyone.” – Vincent Dellapi, Rating: 5/5

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