Why Collaborative Divorce Can Give You More Customized Solutions
- You and your spouse have more flexibility to create divorce terms that fit your family.
- You have more freedom to create parenting schedules and financial agreements that reflect your family’s needs.
- Collaborative Divorce allows you to consider your immediate needs and long-term plans.
- Emotions are recognized while the divorce professionals guide you toward thoughtful decisions.
When you are going through a divorce, you may wonder if there is a way to create solutions that will fit your family instead of simply following a standard set of rules. The Collaborative Divorce process allows you and your spouse to work through your concerns and a divorce agreement that is based on your family, finances and future.
A Divorce Process Built Around Your Family
One of the ways Collaborative Divorce allows you to create customized solutions is through the divorce professionals who make up your collaborative team. Along with your attorneys, you can work with a child specialist, financial neutral and mental health professional who bring specific knowledge to your situation.
If you have children, the child specialist is the voice of your children as you discuss parenting plans and other parenting arrangements will serve them best. If you have financial concerns, the financial neutral will assist with gathering financial information and developing options for how to divide your estate. The mental health professional or divorce coach helps in communication issues that can interfere with decision making.
More Flexibility in Your Final Agreement
In a Collaborative Divorce, you and your spouse have greater freedom to create terms that reflect how your family actually lives. This can include a parenting schedule tailored to your children, decisions about your home and retirement accounts, or an agreement that allows you and your spouse to continue working together in a business.
Litigation places more limits on the solutions available to you because a judge must work within the laws and statutes governing your case. Collaborative Divorce is an opportunity to think creatively and reach agreements that address your specific circumstances.
Planning Your Family’s Future
Some families have needs that require more long term planning. If you have a child with special needs, for example, your discussions may include care after the child turns 18, future financial needs, government benefits and plans for a time when you or your spouse may no longer be able to provide physical care.
Your family may also have circumstances that require sensitive conversations about your future. Collaborative Divorce is a private setting where you and your spouse, with the support of your professional team, have space to discuss those concerns and make decisions that reflect your family.
Thoughtful Decisions Without Ignoring Emotions
Divorce is an emotional event and process. Those emotions do not disappear in a Collaborative Divorce. However, it can be a place to voice those emotions, so that they are addressed and do not get in the way of making good decisions. In some cases individual counseling may be appropriate with a professional that is separate from the Collaborative Divorce team.
A Collaborative Divorce process does not mean you and your spouse will agree on everything. You are getting divorced because disagreements exist, but the collaborative process is a setting where you can consider your options, communicate about them and make decisions with your short and long term goals in mind.
FAQs
Your professional team will consider your specific circumstances and work with you and your spouse to create solutions that fit your family.
You and your spouse will have more freedom to create a parenting schedule that reflects your children’s needs and your family’s circumstances.
Your team can help you to consider current finances as well as future needs, including retirement, business ownership, special needs planning and other financial concerns.
Anna believes collaborative divorce can provide families with an opportunity to resolve disputes thoughtfully while maintaining greater control over outcomes and protecting what matters most. Her clients often appreciate her ability to combine calm guidance and emotional intelligence with practical strategy and clear advocacy.
Anna has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America (2023–2026), Super Lawyers (2019–2026), and Leading Lawyers (2021–2026). She is also the Past President of the Illinois State Bar Association, Past Chair of the Board of ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, and Past Executive Council Member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents. Anna is the current IL ABA Delegate and a Commissioner of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession. She is also a multi-bestselling author, including her two children’s books: “My Parents Are Getting Divorced” and “Emma’s New Holidays”.
Anna offers appointments in-person or virtually via Zoom and serves clients throughout Chicago’s North Shore, including Northbrook, Park Ridge, Schaumburg, Oak Brook, and surrounding communities.
