Collaborative Divorce in Austin: Save Money, Protect Your Kids, Keep Things Private

Why Smart Austin Parents Choose Collaborative Divorce

You’re getting divorced. Your kids don’t have to suffer through ugly court battles. Your bank account doesn’t have to get drained by lawyer fees. Your private business doesn’t have to become public record.

Collaborative divorce gives you three things most people want: save money, protect your kids, and keep your private life private.

I’ve been helping Austin families with collaborative divorce since 2009. Here’s what actually happens and who it works for.

Three Big Benefits You Care About

Your Kids Stay Out of It

Your children never step foot in a courtroom. They don’t get questioned by lawyers or judges. No one asks them to choose sides.

Instead of fighting about custody, you work together to create a parenting plan that actually works for your family. Your kids see you handling a tough situation like grown-ups.

Real example: One couple created a schedule where the kids stay in the family home and the parents rotate in and out. A judge would never approve something that creative, but it worked perfectly for that family.

You’ll Save Serious Money

Collaborative divorce in Austin: $15,000-$25,000 total for both spouses Court battle: $30,000-$50,000+ each spouse

Why such a big difference? In collaborative divorce, you’re working toward the same goal. In court, you’re paying lawyers to fight each other. Every angry email, every motion filed, every court appearance costs you money.

Your Business Stays Private

Collaborative divorce meetings are confidential. Court records are public. That means nosy neighbors, competitors, or future employers can’t look up the details of your divorce online.

If you own a business, have a professional reputation to protect, or just value your privacy, collaborative divorce keeps your personal matters personal.

How Collaborative Divorce Actually Works

Your team includes:

• Your lawyer (trained specifically in collaborative law)
• Your spouse’s lawyer (also specially trained)
• A financial specialist if you have complex assets
• A child specialist if kids are involved and emotions are running high

Everyone signs an agreement upfront: we’re here to solve problems, not create them. If anyone starts playing games or the process breaks down, the lawyers quit and you start over with new attorneys.

The process:

1. First meeting: Everyone meets, sets ground rules, figures out what information we need
2. Information sharing: Both spouses put all their financial cards on the table
3. Problem-solving meetings: Usually 4-6 sessions where you work through custody, property division, and support
4. Draft the agreement: Everything gets written down in plain English
5. Court appearance: One quick hearing to make it official

Most people finish in 4-6 months.

Is Collaborative Divorce Right for You?

It works well if:

• Both of you accept the marriage is ending
• You can sit in the same room and talk without screaming
• You both care more about your kids’ wellbeing than “winning”
• You’re willing to be honest about money
• You want to avoid public court battles

It won’t work if:

• There’s domestic violence
• Someone has serious addiction or mental health problems they won’t address
• One person is hiding money or lying about assets
• One spouse just wants to punish the other

If collaborative divorce isn’t right for your situation, I’ll tell you honestly. Sometimes you need a lawyer who will fight for you in court.

Austin’s Collaborative Divorce Community

Austin has one of the strongest collaborative divorce networks in Texas. That’s good news for you because:

• More specially trained professionals to choose from
• Established relationships between lawyers mean less drama
• Local support groups for people going through the process
• Austin Bar Association provides ongoing training for collaborative lawyers

Our local collaborative professionals include:

• Board-certified family lawyers
• CPAs who specialize in divorce financial planning
• Child psychologists trained in collaborative practice
• Mediators and communication coaches

Real Stories from Austin Families

Business owners: “We built a successful restaurant together over 15 years. Collaborative divorce let us figure out how to divide the business without destroying it or laying off our employees.”

Parents of teens: “Our 16-year-old was already struggling with the divorce. Collaborative divorce meant she didn’t have to testify in court about which parent she wanted to live with.”

High-conflict couple: “We couldn’t be in the same room without fighting. The collaborative lawyers and coach helped us learn to communicate about the kids without all the old resentments getting in the way.”

Cost Comparison: What You Actually Pay

Collaborative Divorce (Austin average):

• Attorney fees: $12,000-$18,000 total
• Financial specialist: $2,000-$4,000
• Child specialist: $1,000-$3,000
• Total: $15,000-$25,000

Contested Court Case (Austin average):

• Attorney fees per person: $15,000-$30,000+
• Expert witnesses: $5,000-$10,000+
• Court costs and fees: $1,000-$3,000+
• Total per person: $21,000-$43,000+

The longer your court case drags on, the more expensive it gets. Collaborative divorce has a built-in incentive to reach agreements efficiently.

When to Start Your Collaborative Divorce

Best time to start: As soon as you both know the marriage is ending, but before things get nasty. Early intervention prevents a lot of expensive problems.

Don’t wait if: Your spouse is talking about hiring a “shark” lawyer, threatening to fight for the house, or saying they’ll make sure you “never see the kids again.” Once the fighting starts, collaborative divorce becomes much harder.

Still possible later: Even if you’ve already filed for divorce, you can switch to collaborative if both sides agree.

What Happens Next

Your consultation covers:

• Whether collaborative divorce fits your situation
• What the process would look like for your family
• Realistic timeline and costs
• Other options if collaborative isn’t right
• Next steps if you decide to move forward

I’ll give you straight answers about whether collaborative divorce makes sense for your case. If it doesn’t, I’ll explain what approach would work better.

Questions People Ask Me

“Can we do collaborative divorce if we still live together?” Yes. Many couples start collaborative divorce while still sharing a house. We can address temporary living arrangements as part of the process.

“What if we can’t agree on something important?” That’s what the process is designed to handle. The team helps you find creative solutions you might not think of on your own. Very few issues are actually deal-breakers.

“My spouse wants to try collaborative, but I don’t trust them.” Trust is built through the process. Everyone commits to full financial disclosure and honest communication. If someone violates that commitment, the collaborative lawyers quit and you’re back to traditional divorce.

“Will this look bad to the judge if it doesn’t work?” No. Judges appreciate when couples try to work things out cooperatively. The fact that you attempted collaborative divorce won’t hurt you in court if you end up there later.

“Can we use collaborative divorce if one of us lives outside Austin?” Yes. We can coordinate with collaborative professionals in other cities or handle meetings by video when necessary.

Ready to explore your options? Call (512) 894-1560 or schedule your consultation online. I’ll help you figure out the best approach for your family’s situation.