Portland, OR family law attorney Kaite Goss talks about the advantages of collaborative divorce. Some of the chief advantages of the collaborative process include working through the system on a timeline that works for the parties, allowing them to operate outside the context of litigation. This eliminates the constraints of the court’s timeline, enabling the family to follow a schedule best suited to their needs. Another key advantage is the focus on family-specific solutions. The parties identify the key issues they want to address and then collaborate to come up with potential solutions.

Additionally, the collaborative process can be cost-saving. By working together on tasks such as gathering information, appraising properties, or other assets, and using joint experts instead of competing ones, the parties can avoid some duplication of efforts. Collaborative law can also save costs by outsourcing certain tasks typically handled by a lawyer. For example, working with a joint financial neutral, coach, or even a child specialist can be more cost-effective. These experts often provide specialized expertise that a lawyer may not have, and their hourly rates are typically lower, ultimately leading to savings for the parties.