If you are reading this, you may already know that the collaborative law process can make a divorce more amicable and less hostile than litigation. However, it is still a process with rules and guidelines all parties should follow.
Inadvertent missteps taken during the collaborative law divorce process could destroy your quest for a relatively peaceful divorce. They can lead to the very situation you sought to avoid—a battle between you and your spouse.
Being unwilling to compromise
The spirit and art of mutual compromise is often one of the first things lost in a troubled marriage. You cannot avoid compromising with your spouse if you want your collaborative divorce to succeed. Some find it helpful to make a list of items or divorce issues they are willing to negotiate over.
When you show a willingness to meet your spouse partway in your negotiations, they are more likely to reciprocate.
Spending too many marital assets
Although a collaborative divorce is usually less formal than traditional courtroom procedures, you must still divide your property in accordance with Iowa law. That means you have the same financial obligations that arise in a regular divorce. One of these is handling and managing your marital property responsibly during negotiations.
Remember that your spouse may still be entitled to a share of the marital assets (or their value) spent recklessly during the divorce.
Fortunately, both spouses must engage a legal representative in a collaborative divorce. Pay attention to your counsel to ensure you do not fall prey to these or any other mistakes that could derail your desire for a more peaceful separation.
