Collaborative Law is an alternative to the traditional adversarial divorcing process. In the traditional divorcing process, the parties file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation with the Court. Once a Petition is filed, the Court will engage in active case management and the parties have to meet court-imposed deadlines. If the parties do not resolve their disputes through mediation, their disputes are resolved by a District Judge at a Permanent Orders Hearing.

Collaborative Law allows the parties to control the process and reach settlements before a Petition is filed. Collaborative Law is often a better alternative to a litigated divorce. The Collaborative Law process recognizes that the parties, and not a judge, may be best suited to make decisions concerning their children and their financial matters.

Collaborative Law is a method for dissolving a marriage where the parties work with a neutral team of professionals to resolve their disputes outside of court. The parties work together in a cooperative manner with the goal of protecting their children and themselves from the stress and conflict of litigation.

• Collaborative Law allows the parties to maintain the confidentiality of their divorcing process by engaging in private negotiations as opposed to trying their divorce in a public courtroom.
• Collaborative Law is family-centered with an emphasis on the long-term wellbeing of the parties’ family.
• Collaborative Law allows the parties to fashion solutions that are specific to the parties’ individual needs.
• Collaborative Law allows the parties to work on their own schedule rather than deadlines imposed by the Court.
• Collaborative Law can be more cost-effective than proceeding to litigation as the parties work together to reach solutions rather than engage in adversarial process.

Jeremy has represented clients in the Collaborative Law process involving child-related and financial issues.