Written by My Collaborative Team Marketing Director Eric Sachs

When families are facing divorce or separation, one of the first fears that comes to mind is conflict, especially the kind that escalates when lawyers take center stage. For many, the idea of hiring attorneys conjures up images of courtroom battles, high legal fees, and a loss of control over deeply personal decisions.

Collaborative neutrals, financial professionals, mental health professionals, child specialists, and other non-attorney team members, are uniquely positioned to shift that narrative. By thoughtfully marketing the Collaborative Process, neutrals can help families enter a more peaceful, team-driven approach to divorce while naturally limiting the need for heavy lawyer involvement.

This doesn’t mean excluding lawyers. It means reframing their role as one part of a team rather than the sole decision-makers.

Many families hesitate to contact a lawyer because they fear conflict or runaway costs. Neutrals can market themselves as a safe first step, offering an initial consultation focused on education rather than legal strategy.

Messaging like, “Start with a neutral to explore your options before you hire attorneys.” Or “Let’s talk about what’s best for your family first, then we’ll decide together how to involve attorneys.” invites people to begin the process with information and reassurance. By introducing the Collaborative model early, neutrals can help families build a team, including lawyers, who are aligned around peaceful resolution.

Blogs, videos, webinars, and social media posts can illustrate how a neutral-led team saves time and money by streamlining communication and reducing legal hours.

Share success stories early involvement of a neutral prevented misunderstandings and kept costs predictable. By educating the public, neutrals make it clear that lawyers still play an important role, but not the only one.

Unlike traditional legal advertising, neutrals can speak directly to the emotional side of divorce. Use messaging that acknowledges fears and offers relief. “Divorce doesn’t have to mean war. Let’s create a plan that protects your children and your finances.” In addition, “I help families separate with dignity, without letting lawyers control the outcome.” By focusing on empathy, neutrals connect with what families need most: reassurance, clarity, and a path forward.

Collaborative neutrals reduce the lawyers’ workload and help families save money and that’s a message worth sharing. Financial neutrals can explain how they create clear budgets and settlement scenarios so lawyers don’t spend billable hours crunching numbers. Mental health professionals can highlight their role in guiding conversations and reducing emotional conflict so lawyers can focus on agreements.

These benefits appeal to both clients who save time and money, and lawyers who enjoy smoother cases and happier clients.

Testimonials, joint presentations with collaborative lawyers, and case studies provide credibility. Invite past clients or team members to share how starting with a neutral made the process less intimidating and more affordable.

Collaborative neutrals don’t need to replace lawyers, they need to reframe them. By positioning themselves as the safe first call, neutrals can guide families toward a process that values dignity, teamwork, and control. Lawyers remain part of the team, but their role is balanced, their hours reduced, and families benefit from a kinder, more cost-effective path through divorce.