What Is a Collaborative Divorce and How Can You Get One? Contact Divorce Partners Online for Amicable Separation Mediation in Sydney​

What is the worst thing about divorce?

Ask five people who have divorced that question, and you will probably hear two dozen different answers. For some, the worst part of divorce is ending a relationship that was supposed to last forever? For others, it’s tearing apart a family with children involved? For some, it’s the contentious divorce battle, which so often nullifies any remaining fondness or goodwill between soon-to-be ex-partners. 

Indeed, all these things are contributing factors to why divorce is usually such a painful, emotionally exhausting process. Perhaps the worst thing of all, though, is how long divorce takes. Divorces frequently stretch on for months or even years. At Divorce Partners, one of our big goals as divorce mediators in Sydney is to help our clients avoid the endless divorce cycle.

Why Divorces Take Forever

There are a few reasons that divorce takes such a long time, some of which are unavoidable. For instance, in Australia, the court requires couples to have been separated for 12 months before they can apply for divorce. Spouses must be able to prove that they have lived ‘separately and apart’ for a year and that there is no chance of saving the marriage.

Usually, though, the 12-month separation period is not the primary reason that divorce takes so long. On the contrary, one of the best things a separated couple can do in that 12-month period is to talk to each other. Taking time to discuss expectations for the divorce and walk through preliminary negotiations can avoid a lot of the pain and stress that comes into play when lawyers get involved. You might even consider going through separation mediation in Sydney before you apply for your divorce.

The reason that so many divorces carry on for months or years is that spouses opt not to communicate or negotiate with one another. They figure their lawyers will do that for them once they apply for divorce and that there is no need to try for a more collaborative divorce.

As a result, divorces often wind up being contentious. Ex-partners communicate (and argue) through their lawyers rather than going through collaborative mediation. Negotiations over assets, therefore, quickly turn controversial or even venomous. Before the ex-partners know it, they’ve been in a divorce battle for 2-3 years. 

Trying for a Collaborative Divorce with Sydney’s Divorce Partners

At Divorce Partners, our divorce mediators in Sydney strive to help clients reach a collaborative divorce settlement. There are no lawyers involved. Instead, one mediator works with the two spouses together to foster open communication and fair, amicable negotiation. In most cases, we can resolve in three weeks what lawyers and courts take two years or more to settle.

Sometimes, people opt not to pursue divorce mediation in Sydney because they think their lawyers will win them a larger share of the marital assets. This assumption may be true, but there is a considerable cost. In litigated cases, on average, lawyers' fees are 23% of average family wealth. More protracted divorces are costly, with the expense often outweighing the additional assets ‘won’ from a contentious legal battle. Furthermore, a divorce that lasts for two or three years leaves your life in limbo for that time. It’s tough to heal and move on with your life while you are still mired in the ruins of a former marriage.

Give yourself a quicker and more satisfactory escape. With Divorce Partners, you can arrange divorce mediation online or via telephone. We look forward to helping you and your partner move forward.
​
​
​For more information or find out how to get started talk to us today. 
Call us on: 1300 975 994
or email: [email protected]