Oviedo Collaborative Divorce Attorney
Florida’s no-fault divorce law did much to remove the animosity from marriage dissolution proceedings. Previously, a divorce usually meant that both spouses aired their “dirty laundry” in public for everyone to see. A marriage dissolution based on irreconcilable differences shifts the focus from the divorce itself to the emotional and financial issues involved. But some people want an even more non-confrontational experience. Collaborative law might be ideal in these situations.
Only a handful of Seminole County family law attorneys are qualified to handle collaborative law divorces, and Mark Troum is one of them. Only the most experienced lawyers can uphold your legal and financial rights in a non-litigation setting. This commitment enables us to draft a settlement agreement which benefits your family now and in the years to come.
What is Collaborative Law?
Mediation and other alternative dispute resolution forums are quite common. Emotional courtroom showdowns often make great theater on movies and TV shows. But they leave lasting wounds which are often permanent.
Collaborative law is a step beyond alternative dispute resolution. Collaborative law is a litigation alternative. These participants never see the inside of a courtroom. In fact, if collaborative law fails for some reason, the litigants must start over with new Oviedo collaborative divorce attorneys. This ensures that everyone is fully committed to the process.
That process usually involves a series of meetings. Typically, these meetings take place once a month. Each one focuses on a certain issue, such as child custody, alimony, or property division. If expert input is required, perhaps from a child psychologist or real estate agent, the parties divide the cost. That way, the expert is not beholden to either party.
The length of this process varies. Most cases are resolved in five or six meetings. Some require more and some require less.
Is Collaborative Law Right for You?
Florida’s co-parenting law has significantly increased collaborative law’s popularity. Before this law, divorced parents only had to peacefully coexist. Many times, they hardly interacted at all after the marriage ended. But co-parenting requires both parents to be active. So, they must have at least a cordial relationship. Collaborative law builds the necessary foundation.
Generally, collaborative law is also cost-effective. Attorneys spend much less time preparing for meetings and appointments than for hearings and trials. Additionally, collaborative law involves no discovery. In most cases, this part of the process is the most time-consuming and expensive portion of a divorce case.
Perhaps most importantly, collaborative law is completely devoid of “I’ll see you in court” threats. If anything, there is an opposite dynamic. Both spouses know that if the process breaks down, they must return to square one and all the work they have done so far counts for nothing. That’s an outcome everyone would like to avoid.
All that being said, collaborative law might not be right for you. Sometimes, the animosity is so great that the spouses cannot be in the same room together for more than a few minutes. Similarly, they might be so far apart in terms of property division and other issues that extended negotiations might not bear fruit. Finally, many people need or want the closure that a courtroom battle sometimes provides.
Verified allegations of domestic abuse are a major red flag. Physical or other abuse is often rooted in control issues. And, if that’s a problem, a meaningful dialogue might be impossible.
Count on a Thorough Oviedo Collaborative Divorce Lawyer
Collaborative law is a litigation alternative that’s ideal for many families. For a consultation with an experienced family law attorney in Oviedo, contact The Troum Law Firm, P.A. Convenient payment plans are available.
