- Consumer's Choice Award 2019
- Consumer's Choice Award 2020
- Consumer's Choice Award 2021
- Consumer's Choice Award 2022
- Consumer's Choice Award 2023
- Consumer's Choice Award 2024
Collaborative divorce presents a respectful, cooperative path to ending a marriage in Franklin Park. By working with both spouses and a skilled team, families address goals, concerns, and financial realities within a structured, non-adversarial setting. This approach emphasizes open communication, practical problem solving, and emotional support, helping parents protect children and preserve important relationships while shaping an agreement that reflects shared values and long-term stability.
At Frankfort Law Group, we tailor the collaborative process to your circumstances, offering clear guidance, steady momentum, and practical resources at every step. You have a voice in the pace, topics, and decisions, while our attorneys and team help identify options, assess risks, and draft terms that work for your family’s future. Our goal is to minimize conflict, protect finances, and create an arrangement that supports cooperation, communication, and healthy co-parenting after separation.
Opting for collaborative divorce often reduces hostility, costs, and time compared to traditional litigation. The process promotes transparency, shared problem solving, and customized agreements that fit your family’s needs. In Franklin Park, this approach helps protect children’s routines, preserves autonomy in decision making, and preserves privacy. By focusing on communication and planning, families can achieve durable results that stand up to life’s changes while maintaining respectful engagement.
Frankfort Law Group blends thoughtful strategy with practical compassion. Our team in Franklin Park brings broad experience in family law, real-world negotiation, and collaborative processes. We work with clients to map goals, identify risks, and craft agreements that reflect priorities while addressing tax, custody, and asset considerations. With a local presence and responsive service, we aim to guide families through transitions with clarity, accountability, and steady support. We coordinate with financial professionals and, when appropriate, child specialists to ensure plans are comprehensive and resilient. Our approach emphasizes listening, clear explanations, and respectful dialogue, helping families resolve sensitive issues without escalating conflict. Each case is handled with care, accessibility, and a commitment to outcomes that protect relationships and future opportunities for children.
Collaborative divorce combines negotiation, information sharing, and voluntary cooperation, guided by written agreements and a dedicated team. Parties work with their own counsel and often with neutral professionals to address parenting plans, asset division, and long-term concerns. The aim is to reduce courtroom involvement, encourage constructive dialogue, and empower families to determine terms that suit their situation while maintaining dignity and respect throughout the process.
This approach is not about avoiding difficult conversations but about channeling them toward practical solutions. You decide the pace and topics, with attorneys supporting you to understand options, weigh consequences, and document decisions that reflect your priorities. A commitment to transparency and collaboration helps protect children’s routines, preserve financial planning, and create a path forward that all parties can support.
Collaborative divorce is a voluntary process in which each party retains a lawyer to support negotiation while agreeing not to pursue court litigation if negotiations fail. The team may include a neutral financial professional and a child-focused facilitator to help craft parenting plans and financial terms. The goal is to reach a mutually acceptable agreement through open dialogue, structured problem solving, and careful planning that respects the needs of everyone involved.
Core elements include open disclosure, genuine negotiation, and a focus on long-term family goals. The process typically features joint planning sessions, confidential discussions, and documented milestones on parenting, property, and support. The team collaborates to identify priorities, generate options, and evaluate trade-offs, ensuring final terms reflect realistic expectations, fair considerations, and a stable path forward for all family members.
This glossary defines essential terms used in collaborative divorce. It explains the roles of participants, such as clients and attorneys, and clarifies how neutral professionals support financial planning and parenting decisions. Understanding these terms helps families engage in discussions with confidence, evaluate options, and draft agreements that reflect priorities while preserving relationships through open communication and shared goal setting.
Collaborative Divorce is a structured negotiation in which both spouses and their lawyers commit to reaching an agreement without going to court. The process emphasizes respectful communication, full disclosure, and creative problem solving. It often includes neutral professionals to address finances and parenting plans, with the goal of producing durable, fair arrangements that minimize conflict and support children’s wellbeing. If negotiations encounter obstacles, parties agree to seek different counsel and pursue litigation only if necessary.
A neutral facilitator helps guide conversations, keeps discussions on track, and supports productive problem solving while both parties retain control over decisions. The facilitator does not advocate for one side and does not provide legal advice. In many cases, a neutral financial professional helps with asset valuation and budgeting, and may help clarify future income and expenses. The goal is to create open dialogue that leads to mutually acceptable terms.
Each party is represented by an attorney who participates in negotiations with the shared aim of producing an agreement that serves the family’s best interests. Attorneys in this setting focus on facilitating dialogue, advising on legal rights, and drafting documents that reflect what the parties have decided. The collaborative model relies on cooperation, clear communication, and a willingness to adjust terms.
Parenting plans developed in collaborative settings emphasize the child’s routines, safety, and continuity. They include schedules, decision-making responsibilities, and mechanisms to adjust arrangements as children grow. The term captures the commitment to ongoing collaboration and shared responsibility, helping minimize disruption to children’s lives and supporting stable development.
Several paths exist for resolving family matters, from litigation to mediation to collaborative divorce. Each option has different costs, timelines, and levels of control over outcomes. In Franklin Park, many families prefer a process that protects relationships and reduces court involvement. This section explains how collaborative divorce compares to lawsuits and mediation, outlining expectations, professionals involved, and the kinds of decisions families can influence.
In straightforward cases with clear finances and cooperative parenting, a focused negotiation on core terms can resolve matters quickly. A limited approach reduces costs, limits stress, and protects privacy while allowing parties to reach a practical agreement. This path suits situations where both sides want to avoid lengthy courtroom involvement and prefer to resolve issues calmly within a collaborative framework.
If relationships and communication remain constructive but a full-scale process seems unnecessary, targeted negotiations on essential topics can yield durable results. With careful planning and clear milestones, the parties can finalize agreements that support shared parenting and steady finances without engaging in more formal courtroom procedures.
Complex cases with significant assets, business interests, or multiple children benefit from a thorough review. A comprehensive service coordinates attorneys, financial professionals, and parenting specialists to map risks, identify opportunities, and craft robust agreements. This approach helps create stability, protect rights, and provide clear paths for future updates, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes.
A broad strategy considers evolving family needs, future income, and tax implications. By addressing these elements upfront, families can adapt to life changes with confidence. The team coordinates documentation, reviews tax and retirement impacts, and sets up mechanisms for regular reviews, ensuring agreements stay fair and workable as circumstances change.
A comprehensive approach reduces gaps between decisions and reality. It brings together legal counsel, financial planning, and parenting support to build resilient agreements. Clients gain clarity about property division, support, and future changes, while minimizing the risk of miscommunication or last-minute renegotiations.
The process creates a clear roadmap for co-parenting, asset management, and future updates. By addressing concerns early, parties save time, lower costs, and maintain a cooperative atmosphere that helps children feel secure during transitions.
A well-structured plan prioritizes routines, consistent communication, and predictable schedules. This stability supports children’s emotional development and eases transitions after divorce. Parents stay engaged, informed, and aligned about daily life, school events, and caregiving.
Detailed budgeting, asset valuation, and tax considerations are documented upfront. This transparency helps each party understand future financial obligations and opportunities, reduces surprises, and provides a framework for adjustments as incomes, needs, or laws change.
Begin by gathering essential documents, such as income records, debt information, and recent tax returns. Reflect on your goals for parenting time, asset division, and support, and consider how you want to approach disagreements. Establish a tone of cooperation early, and set realistic expectations about what can be accomplished in initial sessions. A clear plan helps keep conversations productive and respectful.
Put the well-being of children first in every discussion. Create stable routines, protect their routines, and minimize exposure to conflict. Practice consistent co-parenting with open communication, shared calendars, and agreed-upon boundaries that help kids feel secure during the transition.
If you want more control over outcomes and fewer courtroom hearings, this approach may be ideal. It fosters constructive dialogue, reduces stress, and supports tailored agreements that reflect family priorities. You can influence timelines, terms, and family-friendly strategies that preserve relationships while addressing financial and parenting needs.
Consider this route when finances are complex, schedules are intricate, or emotions are high. A collaborative process provides structure, informed guidance, and a collaborative framework for ongoing communication that helps families navigate transitions with confidence and clarity.
High-conflict disputes, asset ownership questions, and parenting plans that require careful coordination often call for a collaborative approach. When couples seek a respectful resolution that protects children’s routines and maintains dignity, this service can provide a practical path. In Franklin Park, families facing these conditions typically benefit from structured negotiations and professional guidance.
During tense negotiations, a collaborative process helps keep conversations productive and focused on shared goals. By involving a neutral facilitator and clear ground rules, parties can reduce escalation, preserve relationships, and reach agreements that address parenting, property, and future needs.
Complex financial matters such as business interests, retirement accounts, and tax implications benefit from coordinated planning. The collaborative team can map income, assets, debts, and future obligations, creating terms that are fair, enforceable, and adaptable to changing circumstances.
Parenting schedules may require flexibility and ongoing negotiation. A collaborative approach maintains ongoing dialogue, sets review points, and provides mechanisms to adjust plans as children grow and circumstances shift.
Our team is ready to discuss your family’s needs and explain how collaboration can support clear, workable outcomes. We offer compassionate guidance, practical timelines, and transparent communication to help you move forward with confidence during a difficult transition.
Our firm brings a balanced approach to collaborative divorce, combining local presence with thorough legal understanding and practical problem solving. We focus on clear explanations, respectful negotiation, and careful drafting to help families build durable plans for parenting, finances, and future life changes.
Clients appreciate responsive communication and attention to detail, ensuring you stay informed at every step. We work to remove uncertainty, outline options, and support you in making decisions that reflect your priorities while maintaining a constructive atmosphere for your family.
From first contact through final agreement, our team guides you with consistency, patience, and practical advice, helping you move through the process with confidence and clarity.
From the initial consultation to final agreement, our process combines clear communication, careful documentation, and team collaboration. We explain options, set realistic timelines, and work with you to craft terms that address parenting, property, and support. You will have ongoing access to your legal team and a transparent view of progress as you move toward a durable resolution.
During Step 1, you meet with your attorney to define goals, gather documents, and outline priorities. The session establishes the framework for negotiations, including timelines, roles, and expectations. You will receive guidance on what information to assemble and how decisions will be approached.
During the initial consultation, you describe your situation, priorities, and concerns. Our team listens, explains options, and outlines a plan that aligns with your family’s needs. You will learn about potential outcomes, the roles of professionals in the process, and how decisions will be documented to support a smooth negotiation.
We assemble the right team for your case, including your attorney, a neutral facilitator if needed, and a neutral financial professional to analyze assets and income. The group works together to set goals, map options, and prepare for productive negotiations that reflect your priorities and timeline.
Step 2 centers on structured negotiations. You participate in guided discussions, share information openly, and work toward an agreement on parenting, finances, and future plans. The goal is to reach a binding, final arrangement through collaborative dialogue rather than courtroom confrontation.
Mediation sessions bring parties together with a trained facilitator to explore options, test assumptions, and refine terms. The emphasis remains on cooperation, with the aim of producing a sustainable agreement that satisfies both sides while prioritizing children’s needs.
Attorneys draft a formal agreement capturing parenting, asset division, and support terms. The document undergoes review, adjustments, and finalization, ensuring clarity, enforceability, and alignment with the parties’ goals.
After negotiations conclude, the final agreement is implemented, and plans are put into action. If necessary, the team assists with filings, modifications, or updates as life progresses, keeping lines of communication open and ensuring continued focus on children’s best interests.
Review the final terms for accuracy and compliance. Confirm that parenting schedules, asset allocations, and support provisions reflect what was agreed. Prepare any documents required to finalize the matter and support a smooth transition outside or inside court if needed.
Even after the agreement is signed, the team remains available for guidance on future changes, updates, and compliance. We can help with modifications, ongoing communication strategies, and resources that keep you aligned with your plan.
At the Frankfort Law Group, we take great pride in our commitment to personal service. Clients come to us because they have problems, and they depend upon us to help them find solutions. We take these obligations seriously. When you meet with us, we know that you are only doing so because you need help. Since we started our firm in northeast Illinois, we have focused on providing each of our clients with personal attention. You do not have to be afraid to tell us your story. We are not here to judge you or make you feel ashamed for seeking help. Our only goal is to help you get results and move past your current legal problems.
At the Frankfort Law Group, we take great pride in our commitment to personal service. Clients come to us because they have problems, and they depend upon us to help them find solutions. We take these obligations seriously. When you meet with us, we know that you are only doing so because you need help. Since we started our firm in northeast Illinois, we have focused on providing each of our clients with personal attention. You do not have to be afraid to tell us your story. We are not here to judge you or make you feel ashamed for seeking help. Our only goal is to help you get results and move past your current legal problems.
In a collaborative process, both spouses hire their own attorneys and agree to resolve issues through negotiation rather than litigation. A team, sometimes including a neutral financial professional and a child-focused facilitator, helps facilitate productive discussions. The goal is to reach a fair agreement that meets the family’s needs while preserving relationships and minimizing court involvement. If negotiations stall, parties may switch to different counsel and pursue litigation elsewhere. This approach emphasizes respect, transparency, and careful planning, with a focus on practical outcomes that support parenting arrangements and financial stability.
Collaborative divorce can be appropriate when both spouses want to retain influence over outcomes, minimize courtroom exposure, and keep matters private. It works best when parties communicate openly, can share necessary information, and can negotiate with support from their lawyers and neutral professionals. The process helps create customized parenting plans, asset division, and long-term arrangements that reflect family needs. However, it requires commitment and good faith from both sides. If parties are unwilling to share information or resolve disputes amicably, alternative paths may be more suitable.
Fees for collaborative divorce are typically based on attorney time and any neutral professionals involved. While upfront costs can be higher than simple mediation, the overall expense may be lower than lengthy court battles. The cost depends on case complexity, document preparation, and the number of negotiations. Because disputes are handled outside of court, families often finalize settlements more quickly and with less emotional strain, which can translate to long-term savings and less interruption to daily life.
Timeframes vary; simple cases may progress in a few months, while complex arrangements can stretch longer. The pace depends on readiness to negotiate, availability of professionals, and how quickly information is gathered. A typical process includes an initial planning stage, several negotiation sessions, drafting of agreements, and finalization, with periodic reviews to address updates as families change.
If negotiations break down in collaborative divorce, the standard path is to switch to new counsel and consider other dispute resolution methods. Your existing records and decisions can still be used, and the team can advise on the next steps, including potential litigation in court if needed.
Yes. A collaborative process can incorporate neutral financial professionals and parenting resources, as well as legal counsel to support negotiations. These neutral professionals help assess income, asset values, future needs, and parenting schedules, ensuring that terms are practical and clearly documented.
Yes. A signed agreement in a collaborative process is typically binding, with terms enforceable in court. The document reflects negotiated settlements and can be used as the foundation for a final decree. If you later need changes, many terms can include modification provisions or separate agreements to address evolving circumstances.
Child custody in collaborative divorce focuses on the best interests of the child, with parenting plans that describe time with both parents, school routines, and decision-making responsibilities. By keeping discussions child-centered, families aim to minimize conflict and promote stability, while ensuring that parenting decisions are practical and consistent.
Gather income statements, tax returns, debt information, asset valuations, and any existing agreements. Bring lists of assets, expenses, and goals for parenting time and support. Having organized documents helps speed negotiations, reduce duplications, and ensure the team can provide accurate guidance.
To get started, contact our Franklin Park office to schedule an initial consultation. We will listen to your circumstances, explain the collaborative approach, and outline next steps, including who will be on your team and what information to bring. You can expect a thorough, respectful conversation that helps determine whether collaborative divorce is the right fit and how to begin the process.