Who Is on a Collaborative Divorce Team in Georgia? Roles Explained

When most people think about divorce, they picture two attorneys arguing across a courtroom. Collaborative divorce works very differently. Rather than an adversarial process driven by litigation, collaborative divorce is a structured, team-based approach designed to help couples reach a fair resolution outside of court — on their own terms, on their own timeline.

At Naggiar & Sarif, our collaborative divorce attorneys — including founding partner and collaboratively trained attorney David Sarif — achieve a 90% settlement rate using this approach. A big reason for that success is understanding exactly who is involved in the process and what each person contributes. Here is a breakdown of every role on a collaborative divorce team in Georgia.

The Foundation: The Two Spouses

Collaborative divorce is fundamentally driven by the spouses themselves, not their attorneys or the court. Both parties must voluntarily agree to participate, commit to honest communication, and sign a participation agreement confirming their intent to resolve the divorce without litigation.

This is one of the most meaningful distinctions from traditional divorce. Rather than handing control over major life decisions — custody arrangements, asset division, support — to a judge who doesn’t know your family, collaborative divorce puts those decisions back in your hands. The professionals around you are there to support and inform, not to decide.

Collaboratively Trained Attorneys

Each spouse has their own attorney in a collaborative divorce — but these are not conventional litigators. Collaborative attorneys are specifically trained in interest-based negotiation, meaning they focus on what each spouse genuinely needs from the outcome rather than staking out positions and fighting over them.

Crucially, both attorneys sign the participation agreement committing not to take the case to court. This single commitment fundamentally changes the dynamic. Instead of strategies built around courtroom leverage, the attorneys are working toward a sustainable agreement that both parties can live with.

At Naggiar & Sarif, founding partner David Sarif holds collaborative law training and brings over 20 years of family law experience to the process. Having collaboratively trained counsel on your side means you are fully advised of your rights and interests throughout every negotiation — without the adversarial conflict that drives up costs and emotional strain.

The Neutral Financial Specialist

When a divorce involves significant or complex assets — retirement accounts, investment portfolios, real estate holdings, or a family business — a neutral financial specialist is often brought onto the team. This professional is hired jointly by both spouses and works in the interest of both parties equally, rather than advocating for either side.

Their role includes helping both spouses understand the full financial picture of the marriage, modeling different settlement scenarios, and identifying solutions that are equitable and financially sustainable for both households going forward. Because they are neutral, there is no need for each spouse to hire competing financial experts — which alone can generate significant savings in time and cost.

For couples navigating a high asset divorce in Georgia, the neutral financial specialist is often one of the most valuable members of the collaborative team.

The Divorce Coach

This role surprises many people — but it is one of the most practically useful members of the collaborative team. A divorce coach is typically a licensed mental health professional, but their role in the collaborative process is not to provide therapy or work on the marriage. Their purpose is to help the negotiation itself run more productively.

Divorce is an inherently emotional process. When conversations become tense or communication breaks down between spouses, the divorce coach helps both parties stay focused on constructive problem-solving rather than reactive conflict. They can work with each spouse individually or be present during joint sessions to help manage dynamics and keep the process moving forward.

For many couples, having this kind of structured emotional support built into the process is what makes collaborative divorce possible where it might otherwise stall.

The Child Specialist

When children are involved in a divorce, a child specialist may be added to the collaborative team to ensure that the parenting plan that emerges truly reflects the children’s needs and best interests — not just what each parent wants.

Unlike a Guardian ad Litem, who is appointed by the court in contested litigation, a child specialist in the collaborative process is a neutral expert the team brings in voluntarily. They may meet with the children directly, assess their needs and concerns, and provide guidance to both parents as they work through custody arrangements and parenting schedules.

This is particularly valuable for younger children who cannot easily articulate their needs, or in situations where the parents have significantly different perspectives on what the children need post-divorce.

Does Every Collaborative Divorce Need All These Professionals?

No — and this is an important point. The collaborative team is not a fixed formula. It is built around the specific needs of your case.

A collaborative divorce between two spouses with straightforward finances and no children may involve only the two attorneys and the parties themselves. A more complex case involving significant assets, minor children, and emotionally charged dynamics may bring in a financial specialist, divorce coach, and child specialist. The team expands or contracts based on what will actually help your family reach the best possible outcome.

This flexibility is one of the reasons collaborative divorce tends to be more efficient and cost-effective than litigation, where every contested issue flows through the courts regardless of its complexity.

Work With a Collaboratively Trained Team in Atlanta

Understanding who is on the team is the first step. The next is determining whether collaborative divorce is the right path for your situation. At Naggiar & Sarif, our Atlanta collaborative divorce attorneys include collaboratively trained counsel with decades of family law experience. We take the time during a consultation to honestly evaluate whether the collaborative process is a good fit — and if it is, we guide you through every step with a team built specifically for your case.

Contact Naggiar & Sarif today to schedule a confidential case evaluation and learn how the collaborative process could work for your family.