Divorce is a difficult situation, even in the best of circumstances. But collaborative divorce, which has been gaining prominence over the last few decades, is an option for couples who can amicably settle their differences and end their marriages without the emotional and financial drain of a trial.
New Jersey is one state considering a requirement for couples to try the collaborative approach before resorting to a trial.
If the bills – S1224/A1477 – become law, New Jersey will join approximately 39 states that utilize this approach as an alternative to conventional divorce
New Jersey is one of several states who have passed and signed into law a variation of the Uniform Collaborative Law Act adopted by the Uniform Law Commission in 2009.
According to attorney Linda Piff, collaborative divorces take around 7 months to complete on average, while the traditional contested divorces takes anywhere from 12-18 months to settle.
In addition, Piff said that the collaborative approach is generally a third of the cost of litigating a divorce case.
Many divorce attorneys across the U.S. urge their clients to explore this option before resorting to the more difficult route, even if their particular state doesn’t require it.