Collaborative Divorce Texas

  • Donate
  • For Professionals
    • Membership Advantages
    • Events/Training
    • Become a Member
    • For Students
    • Volunteer at CDT
    • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Home
  • Find a Collaborative Professional
  • What is a Collaborative Divorce?
    • What is Collaborative Divorce?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About CDTexas
    • Master and Credentialed Collaborative Divorce Professionals
    • The Gay G. Cox Award for Excellence in Collaborative Law
  • Blog
  • For Collaborative Professionals
    • Membership Benefits
    • Events/Training
    • Become a Member
    • For Students
    • Advertise With Us
    • Volunteer at CDT
    • Login
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • What is Collaborative Divorce?
    • What is Collaborative Divorce?
    • Why Use a CDTexas Member?
    • About Us
    • Master and Credentialed Collaborative Divorce Professionals
    • The Gay G. Cox Award for Excellence in Collaborative Law
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Find A Professional
    • How Do I Choose a Collaborative Professional?
    • Attorneys
    • Financial Professionals
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • See All
You are here: Home / Blog / Amazon’s Jeff Bezos’ Divorce – Smart People Prove That There Is A Better Way

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos’ Divorce – Smart People Prove That There Is A Better Way

July 10, 2019 By Harry Munsinger, J.D., Ph.D. Leave a Comment

Jeff Bezos

One of the richest and smartest people in the world is Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.  He built the world’s largest retailer from scratch.  There were lurid details about the end of his 25 year marriage to MacKenzie Bezos prior to their filing for divorce in January.  The estate was worth an estimated thirty-seven billion dollars and there were those that expected a costly, drawn-out proceeding costing millions of dollars.  Instead, after just four months, Jeff and MacKenzie announced they had negotiated an amicable divorce settlement that allowed Jeff to retain control of Amazon and awarded MacKenzie a substantial separate estate. 

How Did They Do It? 

Nobody is talking.  These are smart people that didn’t want any more of their dirty laundry aired in public. Smart people know that privacy is important and that is one of the benefits of using the Collaborative Divorce process.  This is one of the indications that Jeff and MacKenzie may have opted for collaborative divorce which allowed them to resolve their marital issues in a cooperative, efficient, and cost-effective way rather than fighting for years in court.  A collaborative divorce avoids formal discovery and contentious court fights and allows a couple to resolve their disputes themselves rather than turning their futures over to a judge or jury.     

Benefits of a Collaborative Divorce 

Why would Jeff and Mackenzie opt for a collaborative divorce rather than litigation?  Because a collaborative divorce offers many benefits, including privacy, lower cost, transparency, client control, convenience, preserving family relationships, protecting children, allowing creative settlement solutions and minimizing post-divorce conflicts.  Most people find these benefits compelling.  Everything that happens during a collaborative divorce is confidential and the cost of a collaborative divorce is lower than the cost of a litigated divorce, especially with a marital estate measured in the billions.  Participants in the collaborative process voluntarily produce all relevant information so they avoid lengthy and expensive discovery fights.  Issues are settled through interest-based negotiation so clients control the outcome.  Meetings are scheduled at the convenience of the parties and the collaborative process helps divorcing couples communicate so they don’t hate each other when the divorce is finished.  Children are never put in the middle of a collaborative divorce so the couple is able to co-parent effectively after the divorce. 

The Collaborative Divorce Process 

During a collaborative divorce, two attorneys, a financial professional, and a mental health professional manage the process.  The clients agree to collaborative and share their goals and interests.  The mental health professional chairs the joint meetings and the financial professional collects and analyzes financial information and helps the parties understand their marital estate.  The collaborative team and parties identify issues, create settlement options, and negotiate a collaborative settlement agreement that meets the important goals and interests of both parties.  Following settlement, the attorneys jointly draft the Divorce Decree and Agreement Incident to Divorce.  One attorney and his or her client prove-up the divorce before a judge. 

 A Litigated Divorce 

The first step in a litigated divorce is to file an original petition and serve it on the other spouse.  Next comes a hearing before a judge to decide where the children will live while the divorce is ongoing, establish a visitation schedule until final settlement or trial of the case, and determine how much temporary spousal support or child support will be paid by one spouse to the other until the divorce decree is entered.  Following the hearing for temporary orders, attorneys exchange requests for discovery and fight over production of financial documents which can consume substantial time and money.  Once discovery is complete, the attorneys may agree to hold settlement negotiations or the court will order the parties to mediation in an effort to settle the dispute.  If the parties can’t settle their dispute, the case is set for trial.  At trial, both parties make opening statements, put on witnesses, introduce evidence, and make closing arguments.  Then, the court or jury decides the issues of the dispute, including who will have custody of the children, how the marital estate will be divided, the amount of child support to be paid, and what amount of spousal support, if any, is justified by the circumstances of this marriage.  Finally, the attorneys draft the Divorce Decree and Agreement Incident to Divorce to reflect the orders of the court.

A Collaborative Divorce is Better 

In a collaborative divorce the parties control the outcome, all information is shared openly, the children are kept out of the divorce process, the parties learn to cooperate and co-parent after the divorce, and a collaborative divorce costs less compared with a litigated divorce.  In a litigated divorce, the attorneys control the case, the parties’ goals and interests are secondary, information is hidden, each side attempts to win, the children may be put in the middle of their parent’s divorce, and litigation costs more than a collaborative divorce.  A collaborative divorce is much better than litigation because it allows win-win negotiations rather than win-lose court fights.  However, a collaborative divorce is not appropriate for every couple.  In cases where the parties can’t compromise, are extremely angry at each other, and want their day in court, litigation may be a better option.  However, if you want a smooth, efficient, and cost-effective divorce, you should explore the collaborative process with a competent collaborative divorce attorney.  

Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos have proven in many ways through the years of their marriage that they are extremely smart people.  They also proved how smart they are in how they chose to handle their divorce.

About Harry Munsinger, J.D., Ph.D.

Harry Munsinger practices collaborative and estate law in San Antonio. He has over twenty years experience resolving disputes involving divorce, probate, wills, and trusts. Harry was an adjunct law professor at the University of Texas and St. Mary’s University. He has published several textbooks and over forty psychological and legal articles. Harry has been a forensic psychology expert, a licensed psychologist and a litigator.

Filed Under: Blog, Harry Munsinger, Our-Featured-Authors

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Find a Professional

Getting started with the Collaborative Process?

First your need to connect with a trained Collaborative Professional.

[Find Out More....]

Articles by Category

Featured Video

  • Collaborative Divorce Testimonial
  • Child of Divorce

Why Collaborative?

  • Jennifer Leister
  • Steve Walker
  • Carla Calabrese
  • Dawn Budner
  • Becky Davenport
  • Jody Johnson
  • Honey Schef
  • James Urmin
  • Kurt Chacon
  • Natalie Gregg
  • Robert Matlock
  • Deborah Lyons
  • Carlos Salinas
  • Camille Scroggins
  • Linda Solomon
  • Richard Soat
  • Lisa Rothfus
  • Jeffrey Shore
  • Barbara Cole
  • David Brunson
  • Jennifer Tull
  • Syd Sh
  • Susan Z. Wright
  • Christi Trusler
  • Camille Milnser
  • Linda Threats
  • Sarah Keathley
  • MaryAnn Kildebeck
  • David Bouschor
  • LIsa Marquis
  • Harry Munsinger
  • Vicki James
  • Robin Watts
  • Katie Berry
  • Jack Emmott
  • Jennifer Broussard
  • Patricia Havard
  • Paula Locke Smyth
  • Laura Schlenker
  • Norma Trusch
  • Brett Christiansen
  • Tim Whitten
  • Mickey Gayler
  • Melinsa Eitzen
  • Julian Schwartz
  • MaryAnn Knolle
  • Chad Olsen
  • Chris Farish
  • Charles Quaid
  • Anne Shuttee
  • Barbara Runge
  • Rhonda Cleaves -
  • Jamie Patterson
  • Catherine Baron
  • Kristen Algert
  • Sandra Roland
  • Rhonda Cleaves 2
  • Gratia Schoemakers

Have you read?

Tips for Kids Going Back to School after a Divorce

Going back to school after a divorce is challenging for children because they face new uncertainties at home and school.  Talk with your children about their feelings and help them manage their fears … [Read More...]

More Articles from this Category

The Collaborative Law Institute of Texas

d/b/a
Collaborative Divorce Texas

Proud Members of IACP

12400 Coit Road
Suite 1270
Dallas, TX 75251
(972) 386-0158

Please note: Our office will be closed on

Holiday closures:
Limited: Nov. 23rd & 24th
Closed: Nov. 25th , 26th and 27th

December 24, 2020 - January 1, 2021


Website Terms of Usage

Contact Our Webmaster

 

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Search Our Website

Find A Professional

  • Find a Collaborative Professional
  • Attorneys
  • Financial Professionals
  • Mental Health Professionals
  • See All
EnglishFrançaisDeutschItalianoPortuguêsEspañol

Copyright © 2021 · Collaborative Divorce Texas · All Rights Reserved

· · ·

Web Design and Maintenance by The Crouch Group