There's a better way
to do this.
Most people just
don't know it exists.
Most divorces don't have to end up in a courtroom. Collaborative divorce gives each of you your own attorney — and keeps the decisions where they belong. With you.
Not mediation. Not litigation. Something better than both.
Most people assume divorce means court. It doesn't have to. Here's how the three main paths actually compare.
Six reasons collaborative divorce is almost always the smarter choice.
No court preparation, no formal discovery, no motion practice, no hearings. Attorneys focus on negotiation. Neutral financial specialists are shared — not duplicated. The savings compared to litigation are real and often substantial.
You are not waiting on court dates or subject to docket backlogs. Collaborative cases move on your schedule, address issues as they arise, and close when both parties are ready — not when a court has an opening.
In litigation, a judge decides your future. In collaborative divorce, those decisions are yours. Parenting plans, asset division, support structures — all of it can be tailored to your actual lives, not a one-size ruling from the bench.
Court filings are public. Your income, your property, your financial disclosures — anyone can look. In collaborative divorce, none of that is filed publicly. What happens at the table stays there, protected by Florida law.
If the collaborative process breaks down and the case goes to litigation, both attorneys must withdraw. Neither can follow their client into court. That means everyone at the table — attorneys included — has a genuine stake in reaching resolution.
The collaborative process is designed to keep children out of the courtroom and out of the conflict. Parenting plans are built around your children's actual lives — their schools, their schedules, their relationships — not a judge's standard template.
Cooperative divorce —
same spirit, one key difference.
Collaborative divorce has a close relative called cooperative divorce. The process is nearly identical — each party retains their own attorney, everyone commits to negotiating in good faith, full financial disclosure is expected, and the goal is resolution without litigation.
The difference is one provision. In cooperative divorce, attorneys are not required to withdraw if the process fails. If negotiations break down and litigation becomes necessary, your attorney stays with you. You don't start over. You don't lose continuity.
For some clients, that matters. If there's uncertainty about whether the process will hold — a complicated financial picture, a history of conflict, one party who isn't fully committed — cooperative divorce offers the same cooperative framework with a smoother path forward if it's needed.
Allyson will assess your situation and tell you which structure fits.
How the
process
works.
Collaborative divorce follows a structured path — but one you control. Allyson walks you through each step so nothing catches you off guard.
Allyson listens to your situation and gives you an honest assessment of whether collaborative or cooperative divorce is the right fit — and what to expect either way. No sugarcoating.
Both parties and their attorneys sign a participation agreement committing to the process. This agreement establishes the ground rules: good faith, full disclosure, and no litigation threats. It also triggers the confidentiality protections under Florida law.
Both parties and their attorneys meet together to work through the issues — property division, support, parenting plans. Neutral professionals join as needed: forensic accountants, financial planners, child specialists, mental health facilitators. Everyone works for resolution, not conflict.
When terms are reached, the agreement is drafted and filed with the court. A judge signs off — typically without a contested hearing. The process ends with a settlement that both parties shaped, not one a judge imposed.
When it works — and when it doesn't.
- Working professionals with income, savings, or retirement accounts
- Business owners — trades, professional practices, small and mid-size companies
- Couples with children who need a workable long-term parenting plan
- Anyone with a home, equity, or real estate holdings
- Couples who can communicate — even minimally — and want to stay out of court
- Situations where privacy matters: income, assets, or personal circumstances you don't want in a public filing
If you have something to protect — a career, a business, a family — collaborative divorce is almost always worth exploring first.
- A history of domestic violence or coercive control
- A significant power imbalance that makes good-faith negotiation impossible
- One party who refuses to disclose assets honestly
- Situations requiring emergency protective orders or asset freezes
Allyson will tell you directly which situation you're in at the first meeting. If litigation is what your case requires, she's a seasoned trial attorney — former Co-Chair of the Florida Bar's Matrimonial Trial Advocacy program — and she'll be ready.
Rather than sugar-coating things, she gave me a realistic evaluation of my situation — which was not what I wanted to hear at that moment, but something I needed to. In court she was well-prepared and the judge respected her.
The goal isn't to fight.
It's to finish — on your terms.
Board Certified. 30+ years. Ready to hear your situation and tell you the truth about it.
Schedule a Consultation (727) 842-8227Hughes Law Group serves clients throughout the Tampa Bay Area, including Pasco County, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, and Hernando County — New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Dade City, and surrounding communities.
Please note our office hours are: Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
© 2026 Allyson Hughes, P.A. d/b/a Hughes Law Group. Principal Office: New Port Richey, FL.
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