Tag Archive for: collaborative facilitator

New Collaborative Divorce Study Shows High Success Rate

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A newly published study about Statistics on Collaborative Divorce in Florida sheds light on why more families are turning to this private, respectful alternative to traditional courtroom divorce—because it works.

The article, co-authored by Family Diplomacy’s managing attorney Adam B. Cordover and Dr. Randy Heller, a professor at Nova Southeastern University and fellow leader in this field of alternative dispute resolution, was featured in the Florida Bar Family Law Section’s Commentator magazine,  Volume XLV, Issue 1, 2025. We are proud of Adam’s continued leadership in the Collaborative Divorce field, both here in Florida and internationally, and of the insights this study provides for lawmakers, judges, and professionals evaluating the efficacy of this process and families considering their options.

Key Statistics on Collaborative Divorce in Florida from the Study

The numbers, based on responses to a Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals research survey filled out by Collaborative Professionals from 2014 to 2024 at the end of their cases, tell a powerful story about the effectiveness of Collaborative Divorce in Florida:

  • 85% of cases ended in a full agreement. This mirrors a 2010 study by the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, which found an 86% resolution rate. In other words, the vast majority of couples who begin the Collaborative Process reach a complete resolution without having to fight in court.

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FAQs – Collaborative Divorce in Florida: What You Need to Know

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When you or your spouse is a professional going through a divorce, your priorities are clear. You want to protect your family and privacy, avoid the public spectacle of a courtroom, and ensure that your complex financial life is handled with care. Collaborative Divorce offers an approach designed with those very concerns in mind. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Collaborative Divorce that you may be wondering about.

Why is there a Disqualification Clause, and How does it Help You?

One of the things that makes Collaborative Divorce unique is the disqualification clause. In essence, this means that if either spouse decides to go to court or end the process, both Collaborative Attorneys and other team members must withdraw. At first glance, you may wonder why this makes sense. In reality, it’s a protective measure. The clause creates a strong incentive for everyone involved to stay committed to reaching an agreement rather than end up where nobody wants to go: fighting in court. Instead of treating Collaboration as a stepping-stone to litigation, you and your spouse know that the only path forward with your lawyers is to resolve matters respectfully and privately by agreement.

In my experience, this clause is one of the strongest safeguards against escalation. It helps keep conversations solution-focused and mitigates against the likelihood that the case will spin out of control into the courtroom battles you hear about on the news.

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Best Collaborative Divorce Lawyer in Florida – How to Choose

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When you are facing divorce, the lawyer and process you choose can make all the difference. If privacy, respect, and control over the process are important to you, then Collaborative Divorce may be the right path. But not every attorney who calls themselves “collaborative” has the same training or experience. So how do you know you are choosing the best Collaborative Divorce lawyer in Florida?

Below are the key questions you should ask any attorney you are considering.

Has the Lawyer taken the 14-Hour Introductory Collaborative Divorce Training?

The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”) has set Minimum Standards for Collaborative Practitioners which include a requirement to take a 14-hour introductory training.  The IACP has further created standards for what must be included in the training.This 14-hour training ensures the lawyer understands not only the legal aspects of divorce, but also how to work effectively with mental health professionals and financial professionals on your team.

Ask your potential lawyer: Did you take the 14-hour Introductory training? Who were your trainers? Have you gone beyond the basics with advanced training?

For example, Adam B. Cordover, Managing Attorney of Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, completed his Introductory Training in 2011 with the Lone Star Trainers, one of the most respected groups in the field. Since 2014, he has himself been teaching the 14-hour course as well as multi-day advanced trainings throughout the United States, Canada, Israel, and France.  Further, Adam has served as a Board Member of the International Academy of Collaborative professionals and as chair of the IACP Ethics & Standards Committee.

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Can Collaborative Divorce Work If We Don’t Get Along?

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If you’re going through a divorce and communication with your spouse is difficult—or downright hostile—you might assume Collaborative Divorce is off the table. Maybe you’ve heard it only works for couples who “get along” or “want the same things.” But the truth is, Collaborative Divorce is designed to help people exactly like you: spouses who are in conflict, but who want a better, healthier way to separate.

Let’s talk about how this works.

A Structured Process with Built-In Support

In Collaborative Divorce, each of you has your own specially trained lawyer who is committed to staying out of court. These attorneys aren’t opposing each other—they’re working as teammates to help you reach an agreement that meets your most important goals. You also get support from other neutral professionals, like a facilitator (a licensed mental health professional) and a financial professional.

The facilitator isn’t there to give therapy, but rather to help you communicate more clearly, manage emotions, and keep meetings productive. They are trained in conflict resolution and work with both of you together to help shift the conversation from fighting to problem-solving.

This team-based approach gives structure to your conversations. Instead of shouting matches or silent standoffs, you’ll have guided discussions where everyone works together to find solutions.

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Internal Family Systems Model: Bringing Compassion Into Divorce

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Going through divorce can stir up all kinds of emotions—anger, fear, sadness, even guilt. But for some, there may also be a part that feels relief—especially if you’ve been thinking about divorce for a long time and finally taken that first step. It’s not just about dividing property or deciding where the kids will live. It’s about navigating a major life change with all the different parts of yourself weighing in. One powerful way to make sense of it all is with the Internal Family Systems model, also known as IFS.

What is the Internal Family Systems Model?

IFS is a way of understanding yourself from the inside out. It helps you recognize that you’re made up of different parts—like the part of you that’s angry, the part that’s scared, the part that’s hopeful, and the part that just wants peace. These parts aren’t bad. They’re trying to protect you. But when one part takes over, it can be tough to communicate or make clear-headed decisions.

In the Collaborative Divorce process, we can use IFS concepts to help you tune into these parts and access your grounded, centered self—the one that can truly lead with compassion and confidence.

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How Doctors Divorce in Florida

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How Doctors Divorce in Florida: A Smarter, Private, Team-Based Approach

Divorce is challenging. But for physicians and their spouses, it can come with extra layers—like valuing a medical practice, protecting reputation and sensitive financial data, and balancing a demanding career with family obligations. If you or your spouse is a doctor in Florida, Collaborative Divorce offers a way to handle your separation with professionalism, privacy, and support.

At Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, we’ve worked with doctors and high-net-worth families across the state. We understand the unique financial and emotional dynamics at play—and how to guide you through them with dignity.

A Private Divorce Process That Respects Your Profession

Collaborative Divorce discussions and decisions take place outside of court. Instead of leaving decisions up to a judge, you and your spouse work with a team of professionals to reach solutions together. This is especially helpful when one or both of you are physicians with complicated schedules, licenses, or business interests at stake.

Just like you may work with other healthcare professionals in a hospital or practice setting—surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, administrators—a Collaborative Divorce uses an interdisciplinary team. Your team likely will include two lawyers (one for each of you), a neutral facilitator (who is a licensed mental health professional to deal with challenging conversations head on and craft a tailored parenting plan), and a neutral financial professional (to efficiently gather mandatory disclosure and help develop bespoke financial options). Each team member brings their own area of expertise to help the family function better and get through the divorce.

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What’s In A Collaborative Participation Agreement?

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If you and your spouse agree to use the Collaborative Divorce process in Florida, one of the first steps you’ll take is signing a Collaborative Participation Agreement. This agreement sets the tone for a respectful, private, and team-supported process to resolve your divorce without fighting in court. It’s a powerful document that helps you and your spouse stay focused on resolution instead of conflict.  And, because the rules of Collaborative Divorce are so different than the old-style adversarial divorce options, it is important that you understand what you and your spouse are signing yourselves up for.

Below is a summary of what our law firm’s most commonly used Collaborative Participation Agreement includes—and why it matters to you.  You will also find the text of our current Collaborative Participation Agreement below (please note that your Collaborative Participation Agreement may vary from the one below).

Who’s on Your Team?

In a Collaborative Divorce, each spouse has their own separate lawyer so that each of you can speak freely and get independent legal advice. These lawyers don’t act as adversaries—instead, they work together to help both of you reach a solution. In your case, one of the attorneys may be Adam B. Cordover, a leader in Florida’s Collaborative Law movement and co-author of the American Bar Association’s book Building a Successful Collaborative Family Law Practice. Adam has trained professionals across the U.S. and abroad and brings deep knowledge of complex financial matters.

This is the most common model of Collaborative Divorce used in Florida.

You’ll also likely have:

  • A Neutral Facilitator – A licensed mental health professional who is a communication specialist, team leader to keep discussions progressing (rather than focused on the fights of the past), and expert of childhood development to help craft a parenting plan tailored to your kids’ needs (if there are children).
  • A Neutral Financial Professional – A financial expert who helps efficiently gather required documents (known as “mandatory disclosure”), educate both spouses so that each understands what is in the marital bucket before expected to make long-lasting decisions, and build realistic support and property division options that work for your family.
  • Collaborative Assistant – A volunteer notetaker.  The Collaborative Assistant agrees to the same confidentiality rules as the other professionals.  He or she takes notes during meetings so that your professionals can focus in real time on tending to your family’s needs.

Other specialists, like child or business valuation experts, can be brought in if needed.

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Why LGBTQ+ Professionals Choose Collaborative Divorce in Florida

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As an LGBTQ+ professional, you may already be carrying the weight of navigating a world that does not always recognize or protect your family the way it should. Whether you are “out” or prefer to keep parts of your personal life private, these times can feel especially heavy. Sadly, you may feel like many LGBTQ+ families today—under attack—whether from unfair legislation, social judgment, or even your own community.

When you are going through a divorce, the last thing you need is to have your private life, financial matters, or parenting decisions laid bare in a public courtroom. That’s why many LGBTQ+ professionals turn to Collaborative Divorce—a private, respectful, and forward-thinking way to resolve family matters without fighting in court.

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Filing Your Divorce In A Far Away Florida County: Protecting Your Privacy

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When you are a professional or public figure, your privacy is priceless. Whether you are a business owner, lawyer, doctor, or executive, or the spouse of someone whose reputation is always under a microscope, you cannot afford to have your personal life become the next topic of office gossip or news headlines. What many people do not realize is that, if you and your spouse agree, you can file for divorce in any county in the state of Florida—not just where you live or work.

This option can be especially valuable if you live or work in a high-profile area like Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Sarasota. Filing in a different county—perhaps one where neither of you has a professional presence—can make it much harder for others to easily find your case. A simple agreement on venue can help you avoid having your personal and financial details sitting in a local public courthouse where people recognize your name.

Keeping Financial and Private Details Out of Public Court File

Even better, Florida law now allows couples, if they both agree, to waive the filing of their financial affidavits with the court. This means you may be able to keep most of your sensitive details—like your income, assets, debts, and business interests—out of the public record. We have the experience to help you navigate this process correctly, no matter where you file.

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Comparing 4 Models of Collaborative Divorce

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Collaborative Divorce is a private process where both you and your spouse work together, with the support of various professionals, to reach a mutually agreeable resolution without fighting in court. This blog post compares and contrasts four models—Lawyer-Only, Collaborative Mediation, Neutral Facilitator, and Two-Coach—each offering unique strengths and approaches.* By understanding the roles and benefits of each, you and your spouse can make an informed decision that best supports your family’s needs.

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