When a collaborative divorce team is assembled for you, you have the option of reassembling them, should you need to modify your initial decree.
Dawn Budner and Carla Calabrese, partners at Calabrese Huff, recently appeared on the Jeff Crilley Show (on 1190 Talk Radio in Dallas) to talk about collaborative divorce and its evolution in Texas.
They made a number of great points throughout the interview, including some interesting takes on the collaborative divorce team. Budner highlighted the importance of the mental health professional in “taking stock of what’s going on with both parents, and where there’s a concern for how the child is doing, you can bring in a specialist just for dealing with these children in these high-conflict situations.” She emphasized that the customization of the collaborative divorce team, according to the needs of the individual family, is one of collaborative divorce’s best selling points.
Budner also emphasized the importance of the divorce decree, calling it a “document that will guide your life,” and the difference it can make to come to that decree without the animosity that court creates.
Calabrese noted that in cases where modification needs to occur, due to changes in one or both parents’ situations, that the collaborative divorce team — which will already be familiar with the family — can reassemble to help them achieve a solution that works. As she put it, “We are your divorce team, and your restructured family team, for life.”
The interview also touches on the history of collaborative law, what drew Calabrese to the practice when it first came to Texas in 2000, and the biggest myth about collaborative law. They were also joined by Sarah Crilley Hill, Jeff’s daughter and a frequent co-host. Sarah’s divorce experience added a real-world element to the interview which made it all the more valuable.
The full interview is viewable here:
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