What Are the Types of Meetings in a Collaborative Divorce?~ 4 min read
In a Collaborative Divorce, you may participate in several types of meetings depending on your family’s needs. These can include full team meetings, financial meetings, divorce coaching sessions, and child specialist meetings. Not every case requires all of them, and each meeting serves a specific purpose as you work toward settlement.
How Collaborative Divorce Meetings Work
Collaborative Divorce is built around structured conversations. Instead of going to court, you and your spouse meet with professionals in planned sessions designed to resolve issues and reach a final agreement.
Each meeting has a defined role. Some focus on finances. Some address parenting. Others deal with communication or emotional concerns. Together, they help move the process forward in an organized way.
Full Team Meetings
The full team meeting is the primary working session. You and your spouse attend along with both attorneys and a neutral divorce coach. Depending on the topic, a financial professional and a child specialist may also participate.
These meetings are typically scheduled for about two hours. An agenda is sent in advance so everyone knows what will be covered. Adjustments can be made if circumstances change.
The divorce coach guides the discussion and manages the flow of conversation. The financial professional may speak during discussions about assets or income. The child specialist may participate when parenting issues are addressed. Not everyone speaks at every meeting. It depends on the topic that day.
Attorneys may meet briefly before or after to review agenda items or debrief.
Financial Meetings
You may meet directly with the financial professional to review assets, debts, income, and possible division options in greater detail.
These sessions allow you to ask questions, review documents, and explore settlement options in a focused setting.
Coaching Meetings
You may meet with the divorce coach together or separately. These meetings focus on communication and emotional concerns that may affect progress.
Sometimes they occur before or after a full team meeting. Individual sessions may also take place if personal concerns need attention, so future meetings remain productive.
Child Specialist Meetings
If your case includes a child specialist, that professional may meet with you together, separately, and sometimes with your children. Their role is to bring the child’s perspective into the discussion.
They may offer input on parenting schedules and may draft the initial version of the parenting plan. Not every family requires a child specialist. It depends on your situation.
How Many Meetings Will You Have?
Every family is different. Some cases resolve in three to four months, while others take longer. Finishing in just a couple of months is possible, but that is rare. Some cases may take a year or more. The timeline depends on the issues involved and how quickly decisions are made.
You also have some control over the pace. If you need to slow things down, you can. If everyone is ready to move forward more quickly, that can happen as well.
At the beginning of the process, you will identify your goals. For example:
• Do you want to keep the house so the children can remain there?
• Is staying in the same school district important?
• Do you need to sell the house right away?
• Are certain financial priorities more important than others?
These goals are revisited throughout the process and may shift as new information arises. The meetings continue until you reach a final settlement that reflects your family’s priorities.
Contact Family Ally
If you are considering divorce or would like to learn more about Collaborative Divorce, the team at Family Ally provides steady, practical support throughout the process. They focus on thoughtful solutions that reflect your family’s priorities and long-term goals. To schedule a consultation, contact Jennifer Piper at 314-449-9800 or contact us online.
Family Ally is located at 130 S. Bemiston Ave., Suite 608, St. Louis, MO 63105.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who attends the full team meeting?
You and your spouse attend along with both attorneys and the divorce coach. A financial professional or child specialist may also participate, depending on the topic and your family’s needs.
How long do full team meetings last?
They are usually scheduled for about two hours, and an agenda is sent in advance.
How long does a collaborative divorce take?
Many cases are resolved in three to four months, though some take longer. The timeline depends on the issues involved and how quickly decisions are made.
Jennifer R. Piper is a family law attorney, mediator, and parenting coordinator with more than 20 years of experience serving families in the St. Louis area. She is certified as a Guardian ad Litem and frequently appointed by courts to represent children in high-conflict cases. Jennifer is a former Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and an active leader in local and state bar organizations.
Her professional recognition includes being named to The Best Lawyers in America® (2017–2025), Missouri Super Lawyers (2021–2024), and receiving a Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Jennifer also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She regularly speaks on family law topics and has helped shape family court procedures through her service on multiple committees.
