Collaborative Divorce Attorney
Collaborative Divorce
Orlando
You agreed to end your marriage. You didn’t agree to a courtroom war.
Collaborative divorce gives Orlando couples a private, peaceful path through divorce, with both spouses making the major decisions instead of a Judge. Most collaborative divorces finish in less than 12 months.
A Smarter Way Through Divorce
Not every case needs to become a fight. We help you explore resolution where possible—and prepare you when it’s not.
Is Collaborative Divorce Right For You?
This option may be a good fit if:
- You and your spouse agree the marriage is over and want to end it respectfully
- You have children and want to protect your co-parenting relationship
- You value privacy and don't want your finances or family details discussed in open court
- You want control over the major decisions, instead of leaving them to a Judge
- You have a business, retirement accounts, or other significant assets that need careful division
- You want a faster, often less expensive alternative to litigation
How It Looks
How Florida Law Treats Collaborative Divorce
Florida formally recognizes collaborative divorce through the Collaborative Law Process Act, codified at Florida Statutes 61.55 through 61.58, and Rule 12.745 of the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure. That means collaborative divorce in Orlando isn’t just a private handshake. It’s a recognized legal process with built-in protections and clear rules.
A few Florida-specific elements worth knowing:
01.
A signed Participation Agreement is required
Both spouses, and both attorneys, sign a written agreement committing to resolve the case outside of court and to share information openly and in good faith.
02.
Confidentiality is protected by statute
Communications made during the collaborative process are generally privileged and cannot be used against either spouse if the case later goes to court.
03.
The disqualification provision is mandatory
If the collaborative process breaks down and either spouse decides to litigate, both collaborative attorneys must withdraw. New counsel must be hired for any court proceedings. This rule keeps everyone, including the lawyers, focused on settlement rather than positioning for trial.
04.
Full financial disclosure is required
Florida law requires both spouses to share complete financial information, including income, assets, debts, and expenses, just as they would in a traditional divorce.
05.
The result is filed with the court
Once you reach an agreement, the marital settlement agreement is filed with the court and incorporated into the final judgment of dissolution. The result is just as legally binding as one reached through litigation.
Why Couples Choose Collaborative Divorce
Divorce is hard enough without adding fuel to the fire. Collaborative divorce is built around a simple idea: when two people make their own decisions about their family, the result is financially and emotionally easier than letting a stranger in a robe decide for them.
What it means for you, in practical terms:
More Privacy
The process happens in private meetings, not in a courtroom where any member of the public can be present. Your finances, your parenting disputes, and your personal life stay between you, your spouse, and your team.
More Control
In a litigated divorce, final decisions are made by a Judge who knows nothing about you or your life. In a collaborative divorce, you and your spouse reach an agreement on your own terms.
More Freedom
You start the next chapter sooner. Most collaborative divorces finish in less than 12 months, far faster than a contested case.
More Peace
Traditional divorce often fans the flames. Collaborative divorce is built on cooperation and de-escalation, which means less hostility and more stability for you and your children.
Issues We Help With
Six Issues A Collaborative Divorce Can Resolve
Parenting Plans and Time-Sharing
Child Support
Spousal Support (Alimony)
Equitable Distribution of Marital Assets and Debts
Business Valuation and Division
Retirement, Tax, and Long-Term Financial Planning
Why You Need A Trained Collaborative Divorce Attorney
Collaborative divorce is not something you can entrust to just any family law attorney. The process is governed by a specific set of standards and uses techniques built to minimize conflict and encourage cooperation. An attorney without collaborative training can accidentally derail the process, even with good intentions.
You also want an attorney who has done this enough times to recognize when the process is working, when it’s drifting, and when it needs to be reset. That kind of judgment comes from training in mediation, dispute resolution, and collaborative law specifically.
Going without a trained collaborative attorney can cost you in real ways. People sometimes agree to terms they don’t fully grasp, miss key disclosures, or sign away rights they didn’t know they had. A skilled collaborative lawyer protects you from those costly errors while keeping the process on track.
How It Works
The Collaborative Divorce Process, Step By Step
01.
Initial Consultation
You meet with a collaborative divorce attorney to talk about your situation, goals, and whether the collaborative process is a fit for your family.
02.
Signing the Participation Agreement
Both spouses and both attorneys sign a written agreement committing to resolve the case outside of court, to share information openly, and to abide by the disqualification provision.
03.
Building Your Professional Team
Each spouse hires their own collaborative attorney. Together, the two of you can also bring in a neutral mental health professional, a financial professional, a divorce coach, and, if needed, a business valuation specialist. These specialists work alongside your attorneys.
04.
Information Gathering and Disclosure
Both spouses share full financial information. Your team helps gather, organize, and explain the data so everyone is working from the same set of facts.
05.
Joint Negotiation Meetings
You and your spouse, supported by your team, meet to talk about your goals, identify the most pressing issues, and negotiate until you reach an agreement that works for both of you.
06.
Settlement Agreement and Final Judgment
Once you reach agreement on parenting, finances, and everything in between, your attorneys draft the marital settlement agreement and file it with the court. The court enters a final judgment of dissolution, and the divorce is final.
What If The Collaborative Process Hits A Wall?
Most collaborative cases settle, but not all of them do. Sometimes a spouse becomes uncooperative. Sometimes a hidden asset turns up. Sometimes a hard issue, like relocation with the children or a contested business valuation, simply can’t be resolved at the table.
If new issues appear, the collaborative process is built to absorb them. A forensic accountant can be added to look at suspicious financial activity. A business valuation specialist can be brought in to value a closely held company. A child specialist can step in to help with parenting disputes. The team can grow to fit the case.
If one spouse stops cooperating, the team can pause, recalibrate, and try again. Sometimes a single coaching session or a private meeting with the mental health professional gets things moving.
If the process formally breaks down, Florida’s disqualification provision kicks in. Both collaborative attorneys must withdraw, and each spouse must hire new counsel for any litigation. This is a serious step, both financially and emotionally, and our team works hard to help you avoid it. When it does happen, we make the transition as clean as possible.
The collaborative process is flexible, but it’s not unlimited. We’re upfront about when it’s working and when it isn’t, so you can make an informed call.
The Leap Frog Approach To Collaborative Divorce
We focus on family law and divorce only. Every attorney on our team is fully invested in helping people through divorce and divorce-related matters, with specific training in collaborative law, mediation, and dispute resolution.
A.J. and Kiki Grossman both completed post-doctorate work at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, internationally recognized as one of the top law-school-based conflict resolution programs in the country. A.J. brings courtroom experience and certified family mediator credentials. Kiki brings corporate conflict resolution experience as Lead Conflict Resolution Specialist. Together, they have the depth to handle even high-conflict collaborative cases.
Our process rests on three ideas:
Your Life, Your Divorce
We start by listening. Before any strategy, we want to know what your life looks like, what your goals are, and what outcome would feel like a win for you and your family.
On Your Side
Our collaborative divorce attorneys build and execute a plan around your priorities, working with the rest of your Professional Team to resolve disputes with as little friction as possible.
Start the Next Chapter
Our goal is to get you to the next phase of your life with confidence and stability, so you can move forward instead of looking back.
We also offer a range of payment options to make collaborative divorce accessible, since the process is meant to be more affordable than litigation in the first place.
Testimonials
Legal Excellence Through Client Experiences.
Our clients’ words reflect what matters most to us: clarity, trust, and guidance through one of life’s hardest transitions.
Our Team
Meet Your Leap Frog Divorce Team
A.J. Grossman
Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator
A.J. Grossman
Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator
Kiki Grossman
Lead Conflict Resolution Specialist • Attorney at Law
Kiki Grossman
Lead Conflict Resolution Specialist • Attorney at Law
Banda Nadeau
Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator
Banda Nadeau
Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator
April Phillips
Litigation & Trial Paralegal • Certified Guardian Ad Litem
April Phillips
Litigation & Trial Paralegal • Certified Guardian Ad Litem
Brett Castro
FRP, Discovery Specialist
Brett Castro
FRP, Discovery Specialist
Yarissa Castillo
Paralegal
Yarissa Castillo
Paralegal
Brianna Hendricks
Legal Assistant
Brianna Hendricks
Legal Assistant
Frequently Asked Questions About Collaborative Divorce In Orlando
What is collaborative divorce in Florida?
Collaborative divorce is a Florida-recognized legal process where both spouses, with their own collaborative attorneys, agree to resolve their divorce outside of court. Each side may also work with neutral specialists like a mental health professional and a financial professional. The process is governed by the Collaborative Law Process Act and Rule 12.745 of the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure.
How is collaborative divorce different from mediation?
Mediation usually involves a single neutral mediator who helps you and your spouse talk through issues, often in one or two sessions. Collaborative divorce is a longer, team-based process where each spouse has their own trained collaborative attorney, plus shared specialists, and where both sides commit in writing to settle out of court. Collaborative divorce gives you more support and structure than mediation, especially in complex cases.
How long does a collaborative divorce take in Florida?
On average, collaborative divorces finish in less than 12 months, often faster than a contested case that goes to trial. Timeline depends on how complex your finances are and how readily both spouses participate.
How much does collaborative divorce cost compared to litigation?
Most collaborative divorces cost less than litigated cases, especially when you factor in the speed and the smaller toll on your time, stress, and family. Highly contested trials in Florida can run more than $100,000. Collaborative cases typically come in well below that.
What happens if the collaborative process breaks down?
Florida’s disqualification provision requires both collaborative attorneys to withdraw if the case shifts to litigation. You and your spouse would each hire new counsel for the court process. This is a built-in feature of the collaborative model, and it’s part of why the process tends to keep both sides committed to settling.
Do both spouses need their own attorney for a collaborative divorce?
Yes. In Florida, each spouse must have their own collaborative attorney. The attorneys are not neutrals. They each represent their own client, while still committing to a cooperative process.
Is collaborative divorce a good idea if there's been high conflict in my marriage?
It can be, with the right team. The presence of a mental health professional and trained collaborative attorneys can help defuse conflict that would otherwise blow up in court. That said, collaborative divorce isn’t right for every situation. We’ll talk through your circumstances honestly during your consultation.
Let’s Start Moving Forward
Ready To Take The Next Step?
When a relationship is ending, peace and stability matter more than ever. Collaborative divorce gives you a way to end your marriage without ending your sense of self, your privacy, or your relationship with your children. At Leap Frog Divorce, we’re trained, experienced, and ready to help.
Tell us what’s going on, and we’ll get back to you quickly.
