ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Collaborative divorce

Hey there kiddo! Have you ever heard of a divorce? It's when two grown-ups decide they don't want to be married to each other anymore. But sometimes, instead of fighting and being mean to each other, they decide to work together to make it easier for everyone involved. That's called a collaborative divorce!

A collaborative divorce is sort of like a team sport - both parents, or "teams," work together and make sure everyone is treated fairly. They talk with each other and with special helpers called lawyers, who help make choices and decisions that are good for everyone. They try to make sure everyone's feelings are taken into account and that everything is fair.

There are some really cool things about a collaborative divorce. People get to make choices together instead of having a judge decide all the important stuff. Also, everyone agrees to keep things private and not to tell other people about everything that is happening. And most importantly, everyone tries to be respectful and not mean to each other during the entire process.

So, in summary, a collaborative divorce is when two grown-ups who are getting divorced decide to work together and be respectful to each other through the process. They have helpers called lawyers who help them make good choices, and everyone works together as a team to make sure everything is fair and everyone is happy.