Grand Rapids Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Last updated on June 17, 2026

A Gentler Approach To Ending A Marriage

A collaborative divorce may be a more effective and civil approach for those who want to end their marriage. When spouses hire an attorney with experience in collaborative divorce, they can find an easier way to settle their affairs and move on with their lives.

Attorney Mike Toburen at Toburen Law PLC is committed to helping spouses in Western Michigan engage in collaborative divorce. He believes it’s a practical way to pursue a settlement that can satisfy both parties.

What Is Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative divorce resolves marital disputes outside the courtroom. Traditional litigation pits spouses against each other in public. In contrast, the collaborative process relies on a “participation agreement.” Under MCL 691.1335, this agreement binds both parties and their attorneys to good-faith negotiation. If a party ends the process to go to court, both attorneys must withdraw from the case. This rule keeps everyone focused on reaching a mutual settlement.

In Michigan, this team-based approach often includes attorneys, financial specialists, and divorce coaches. These professionals address the emotional and economic aspects of the split. You can use this process for:

• Divorce: End a marriage through a structured, private negotiation rather than a trial.
• Property distribution: Divide real estate, retirement accounts, and personal assets by mutual agreement.
• Child custody and parenting time: Create a schedule and decision-making plan that fits your family’s specific needs.
• Child support: Calculate financial support based on Michigan’s formula while addressing specific educational or medical costs.
• Spousal support: Establish alimony terms that provide financial stability for both parties after the marriage ends.

Families use these methods to change legal arrangements. The process maintains a respectful environment that focuses on long-term stability.

Benefits Of Collaborative Divorce For Families In Grand Rapids

A collaborative path offers advantages over the adversarial Michigan court system. For families in Kent and Ottawa counties, privacy is a primary benefit. Under the Uniform Collaborative Law Act, your negotiations and financial disclosures remain confidential.

The final Judgment of Divorce is a public record. However, your private discussions stay out of the public sphere. The process also reduces conflict. This helps you build a healthy co-parenting relationship. Parents lessen the emotional impact on their children by removing the trial mentality.

Financially, the collaborative model offers cost efficiency and control. You and your spouse decide your future. You do not leave life-altering decisions to a judge. This helps high-asset couples or those in a “gray divorce” divide retirement accounts and business interests without a trial.

Understanding The Collaborative Divorce Process In Michigan

Attorney Mike Toburen helps clients understand how collaborative divorce works in Grand Rapids. The process begins by consulting with a collaborative attorney. During this stage, each spouse learns about the process, discusses priorities and determines whether collaboration is appropriate. If both parties agree to move forward, they sign a participation agreement. 

Michigan’s adoption of the Uniform Collaborative Law Act provides a legal framework for collaborative family law matters and outlines important requirements for the process. Next comes team formation. Depending on the family’s needs, the collaborative team may include: 

• Each spouse’s collaborative attorney
• A neutral financial professional
• A divorce coach or mental health professional
• Other specialists, when necessary

The parties then participate in a series of joint meetings focused on resolving issues such as parenting time, property division, support and financial planning. Once agreements are reached, the attorneys draft the final settlement documents and submit them to the court for approval. 

Collaborative Divorce Versus Litigation In Grand Rapids Courts

When comparing collaborative divorce and litigation options in Michigan, the most significant differences include:

• Timelines: Kent County family court cases may experience scheduling delays due to crowded dockets and procedural requirements. Collaborative matters can move at a pace determined by the parties.
• Cost: Collaborative divorce can reduce expenses associated with repeated court appearances, formal discovery disputes and extensive motion practice.
• Privacy: Court filings become part of the public record, while collaborative negotiations remain private.
• Conflict level: Many families appreciate the reduced conflict and improved communication that can support long-term co-parenting relationships.

Weighing the differences when choosing a trial-ready divorce lawyer in Grand Rapids versus a collaborative divorce team can determine the right direction for your case. That said, litigation remains necessary in cases involving domestic violence, intimidation, hidden assets or a spouse acting in bad faith. 

Collaborative Divorce For High-Asset And Complex Cases

Collaborative divorce is not limited to straightforward cases. In fact, many high-asset divorce matters in Grand Rapids benefit from the collaborative model. Complex estates often involve issues such as: 

• Business valuation for closely held companies
• Retirement accounts and pension division
• Multiple residences and investment properties
• Vacation properties and lake homes
• Executive compensation and other unique assets

This approach is attractive to executives, business owners, physicians and other professionals who value confidentiality. Attorney Mike Toburen can help you evaluate whether a complex divorce in Michigan can be collaborative.

Who Should Consider Collaborative Divorce?

This process works for couples who value mutual respect and want to control their timeline. It is effective for:

• Co-parents protecting children from trial trauma
• High net worth individuals keeping financial details private
• Long-term marriages requiring a neutral financial professional
• Couples preserving a civil relationship for the future

You can speak with Mike Toburen to determine if your situation is a good fit for this approach.

Frequently Asked Questions About Collaborative Divorce

Divorce does not need to be an acrimonious process. You and your spouse can work with each other instead. Understanding the basics of collaborative divorce can help you make informed decisions about how you manage the process.

How much does a collaborative divorce cost?

Collaborative divorce is different than litigated divorce, and the costs are different as well. You may incur far fewer total divorce expenses in a collaborative divorce than in a litigated one. Exactly how much the collaborative divorce costs depends on the number of disagreements, the complexity of your marital estate and the need to work with outside professionals.

What’s the difference between mediation and collaborative divorce?

During mediation, you rely on a single professional, the neutral third-party mediator, to help you resolve disputes through calm communication. You may attend divorce mediation with your individual lawyers, but doing so is not mandatory.

During collaborative divorce proceedings, both spouses typically have their lawyers present at all negotiation sessions. They may work with a mediator, but they may also work with numerous other professionals, such as financial advisors and parenting coordinators.

Mediation aims to settle disputes in a series of controlled conversations, while collaborative divorce focuses on settling different disagreements with the input of specific professionals and the lawyers representing each of the spouses.

Can collaborative divorce protect children from conflict?

Yes, the protection of minor children is a priority during collaborative divorce. Conflict between parents is often the most stressful and damaging element of any divorce involving children. Your commitment to working together shields your children from intense parental conflict.

They do not need to witness your arguments or feel forced to take sides. Additionally, working with a parenting coordinator or other child specialists can help you create a custody order that truly prioritizes the best interests of your children.

What happens if we can’t reach an agreement in a collaborative divorce?

A failure to settle disputes during collaborative divorce triggers the consequences outlined in the participation agreement you signed at the beginning of the process. If you cannot reach a settlement, then you must change approaches and prepare for litigation.

You can no longer work with your collaborative divorce attorneys but must instead hire new litigation lawyers. The possibility of starting from scratch is a profound incentive to work cooperatively, even during the intense negative emotions that may arise throughout negotiations.

Contact A Grand Rapids Advocate Committed To Your Future

Mike Toburen is not just an attorney; he is a leader in the West Michigan collaborative community. Having previously served as the secretary on the leadership board of the Collaborative Divorce Professionals of West Michigan, Mike brings a level of specialized expertise that few in the region can match. His active involvement in the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan ensures that his clients benefit from the most current and effective dispute-resolution strategies.

Whether you are navigating a complex high asset split or seeking a peaceful resolution for your children’s sake, Mike Toburen provides the sophisticated guidance necessary to avoid the courtroom. If you are interested in preventing the emotional and financial strain of a traditional trial, contact Toburen Law PLC at 616-818-1842 or visit this contact page to schedule a consultation. From the firm’s Grand Rapids office, Mike proudly serves clients throughout Kent and Ottawa counties.