Divorce may be a subject on many people’s minds as Jon and Kate Gosselin, the parents of eight children on TLC’s “Jon and Kate Plus Eight”, have announced that they will be seeking a divorce. Though Jon and Kate have an extraordinary situation, they will face many of the challenges that others experience in divorce proceedings: the issues of money, custody of children, and emotional hardship.

For most people, divorce is not a matter of intense public scrutiny or caring for eight children, and that gives most divorces more options. Divorce does not have to involve litigation.  In fact, many divorces are resolved outside the courtroom. One option is mediation, which allows parties to make their own decisions and avoid litigation. Another option is collaborative divorce, which is similar to mediation but both parties are represented by counsel and work with mental health coaches. Both of these options can help avoid litigation and reduce costs and anxiety for everyone involved.