Collaborative Divorce is about more than just lawyers—it brings in financial and mental health professionals who help you manage both the numbers and the emotions. Coaches help you stay calm and focused, and financial neutrals ensure assets are divided fairly and clearly. Together, this team approach makes divorce more manageable and balanced.
Divorce is not just a legal event—it’s an emotional and financial journey. That’s why Collaborative Divorce involves more than just your lawyer. It often includes trained professionals who focus on the parts of the process lawyers may not best to handle—like emotional support and financial clarity.
Let’s look at how two key team members—mental health professionals and financial neutrals—can help make your divorce process more effective and less overwhelming.
The Mental Health Professional: Your Personal Performance Coach
In a Collaborative Divorce, the mental health professional isn’t your therapist. Think of them more like a divorce coach—someone who helps you stay calm, focused, and productive when the situation gets tough.
What They Help With:
- Managing emotional triggers
- Improving communication with your ex and legal team
- Reducing feelings of anxiety and overwhelm
- Staying organized and goal-oriented
Why It Matters:
- They typically cost less per hour than a lawyer
- They free up your lawyer to focus on the legal issues
- You get support tailored to emotional and relational challenges
- You stay clearer-headed during negotiations
The Financial Neutral: Your Objective Numbers Expert
Finances are often one of the most stressful parts of any divorce—especially when you have complex assets or investment portfolios. A financial neutral is a trained professional who works with both parties to help make sense of your finances in a clear and balanced way.
When They’re Most Helpful:
- You own multiple properties or investments
- You need to evaluate retirement accounts, pensions, or businesses
- You want a neutral party to handle asset valuations fairly
In Edmonton, financial neutrals are often brought in for more complicated financial situations—not necessarily every case. But when your financial picture goes beyond simple savings and income, they can be essential.
Why This Team Approach Works
Collaborative Divorce is built around the idea that separation isn’t just a legal matter—it affects every part of your life. By using specialized professionals who each play a role in helping, you get better results and more support.
This doesn’t just lead to more fair agreements—it helps both parties walk away feeling more whole and more respected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use both a coach and a financial neutral in my collaborative divorce?
Not always. These professionals are used based on the needs of the case. Simpler divorces may not require both, but they are extremely helpful when things are emotionally or financially complex.
How are these professionals different from expert witnesses?
Collaborative professionals work with both parties and stay neutral. Unlike expert witnesses in litigation, they’re not there to take sides or testify in court.
Will adding more professionals increase my legal costs?
It might seem that way at first, but these professionals often reduce the overall cost by speeding up communication, reducing conflict, and helping you avoid court.
Marla S. Miller is a senior family lawyer at Miller Boileau Family Law Group in Edmonton, Alberta. With over 40 years of experience, Marla brings a thoughtful, team-based approach to separation and divorce. She is a strong advocate for Collaborative Divorce and uses a wide network of professionals to help her clients move forward with clarity and confidence.
Thinking about Collaborative Divorce? Call Marla Miller today at 780-482-2888 to find out if this approach is right for you.
Early in her legal practice, influenced by her late uncle who was a Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, Marla Miller, K.C. became a Family Law Mediator. She has been helping families through mediation for over 30 years. In 2001 she, along with Pierre Boileau, K.C. and others, was one of the founding members of the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Edmonton). She has been an active volunteer with that Association ever since.
One of the first Family and Divorce Lawyers in Edmonton to make a commitment to give up litigation as an option, Marla remains passionate about helping her clients settle outside of court by finding agreements that meet their needs and interests. As both a Registered Collaborative Family Lawyer and a Registered Family Mediator, Marla is one of the most experienced family Mediators in Edmonton.