Helping Ease the Stress of Divorce
The attorneys at our Rockledge, Pennsylvania, law firm are committed to resolving family law problems as amicably as possible. We urge a client involved in a divorce or other family law dispute to consider using the collaborative law process. The goal of this alternative dispute resolution (ADR) technique is to develop solutions in a positive environment outside the courtroom.
An Advocate for Collaborative Law
Our principal family law attorney, Maribeth Blessing, is a strong advocate of the collaborative law process. She has found it especially effective in resolving disputes over child custody arrangements. Attorney Blessing is a member of organizations such as Collaborative Family Law Affiliates, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and has spoken to legal groups on the benefits of using collaborative law in matters involving divorce, custody and support.
How the Collaborative Process Works
Each spouse is represented by an attorney; the four individuals work together to develop solutions to issues related to divorce, child custody and support, alimony, and other matters. Some features of this process include:
- The parties waive their right to litigate and agree to abide by the outcome of the process
- The parties enter into an agreement that requires them to exercise good faith and fairness and provide a full and complete disclosure of their assets and liabilities
- The parties waive their right to confidentiality and commit to providing all required financial records
- The parties are trained in interest-based bargaining
- The parties commit to sharing any needed experts, such as financial analysts and child psychologists. This keeps overall costs down.
Benefits of Collaborative Divorce
When representing clients in the collaborative process, attorneys at our firm have found that it tends to result in more creative solutions and be less expensive. It is often quicker than a litigated divorce that may drag on for months or even years. Because it is fundamentally non-adversarial, participants are spared the stress and anxiety that is part of most litigated divorces. Unlike divorce mediation, the collaborative process allows each party to be represented by legal counsel.
Call for an Initial Consultation
Contact our Philadelphia area law firm to schedule an initial consultation to learn more about collaborative divorce. Call 215-392-0849 for an appointment for a free 10 minute conversation with a lawyer. We also offer a two hour consultation for a very reasonable fee.
