Collaborative divorce, like mediation, is a form of alternative dispute resolution that began in 1990 in Minneapolis. A family law attorney in the city was so burned out from high-conflict divorces that he was ready to walk away from his chosen profession. Instead, he invited opposing lawyers to work with him to resolve adversarial issues. The process worked well for clients, and the idea of collaborative divorce was born.
Every state in the United States now offers some form of collaborative divorce, along with 25 other countries worldwide. The Illinois Collaborative Process Act (ICPA) defines the collaborative divorce lawyer as a procedure intended to resolve a divorce without court intervention. If you are considering a collaborative divorce, speaking to an experienced Wheaton, IL family law attorney can be beneficial.