As family law attorneys, we’re familiar with a lot of legal terms, including those associated with divorce. We can say with certainty we have never heard the term “conscious uncoupling.” Based on the description, conscious uncoupling is just a fancy way of saying divorce.
On March 25, 2014, Gwyneth Paltrow announced her “conscious uncoupling” from her husband Coldplay frontman Chris Martin on her website Goop:
“A conscious uncoupling is the ability to understand that every irritation and argument was a signal to look inside ourselves and identify a negative internal object that needed healing…From this perspective, there are no bad guys, just two people, each playing teacher and student respectively…It’s conscious uncoupling that prevents families from being broken by divorce and creates expanded families that continue to function in a healthy way outside of traditional marriage.”
At Stuart &Blackwell, we are a resolution oriented team, finding ways to settle family law matters without litigating as much as possible. It sounds like conscious uncoupling is a lot like collaborative divorce.
What is collaborative divorce?
There are times when a couple finds themselves ending a marriage and there is not a need to be adversarial. Rather, they choose a less stressful option to litigation – a collaborative divorce. They work together with a team of professionals in a non-adversarial environment to end the marriage.
Professionals can include attorneys, therapists, financial planners, and religious advisors. It’s up to the couple who they want or need on their collaborative team. The couple signs a contract that they will not litigate, and focuses on mutual resolution that is appropriate for both parties.
Let’s face it, whether it’s called conscious uncoupling or collaborative divorce, it is the end of a marriage. If you’re seeking guidance on how to handle the end of your marriage, please contact our team today.