A Guide to Cooperative Divorce

While no family or couple plans for divorce, sometimes they find that there may not be any other solution. If there has been family or relationship counseling, or meetings with a minister, but there doesn't seem to be an answer in sight, then sometimes divorce may be the solemn solution. Divorces can be costly, cause a lot of emotional hurt, and can especially be stressful. If everybody has some sort of cooperation, or can mutually agree on decisions, it can lower the physical price of divorce-since the emotional one-has already taken a toll.

Cooperative divorce takes place when a husband and a wife plan together and agree on decisions such as parenting, custody, and financial. It might be easier if there is a mediator during these meetings, so that tensions don't immediately arise. For custody issues, parents can review their schedules, and find out which days or weekends is best to keep children. Joint custody is often an agreeable solution. There is no reason to pay high lawyer fees, when two individuals can study their own schedule, and come to conclusion as to when to have the children. Simply type out a document or find free ones available on the Internet, with the details of the child custody arrangement. Have each parent sign off. You then can always have it notarized to make it legal.

Financial decisions can simply be made by reviewing what the family budget once was. Only now, there will be two separate budgets. Child support can be rewarded to the parent who will be having the children live with them most often, or it can be arranged on certain bills within the household to help be paid. When two individuals who were once familiar with their budget understand where the money goes and come from, there is no reason to bring in a third person who hasn't actually "lived" out the financial situation. Lawyers may act as a barrier between the two feuding parties, but in the end, it really will be about what the other parent can afford or contribute to the financial ca retaking of the children.

If a couple has come to an agreement to end a marriage, and plan a divorce, then the other details can be part of the decision as well. Low income families, or especially a mother who once was a stay at home mom, may decide to take part in a cooperative divorce. Divorces can result in loans, credit card usage, and eventually debt. With family, religious, or friends as mediators, and someone else to care for the children during these meetings, a cooperative divorce could take less from your wallet. And after the "life decisions" have been made, the only price to pay, will be the emotional ones, for both of you to get back on your feet once again.

Resources:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Collaborative-Divorce-or-Cooperative-Divorce?&id=71485

http://www.cooperativedivorce.org/about/what.cfm