Collaborative Law: An Alternative to Court Battles
Family law disputes can be some of the most emotional and contentious legal battles we face. When a marriage or partnership has dissolved, it is not uncommon for both parties to retreat from one another in a combative manner, often causing undue stress, emotional trauma, and financial burdens.
But what if there was another option besides going to court? What if there was a better way to handle these types of disputes and achieve resolutions that are satisfactory to both parties?
Fortunately, there is an alternative to court battles called collaborative law, which is becoming increasingly popular in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
What is Collaborative Law?
Collaborative law is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that allows both parties to work together in a safe and respectful environment to reach a mutually agreeable settlement. Collaborative law is specifically designed to avoid the traditional litigated divorce process, which can be long, costly, and emotionally draining.
In a collaborative law process, rather than several courtroom battles, each party has their own attorney present who can assist them in their negotiations. Collaborative law focuses on a non-adversarial approach, where the parties involved work together to find solutions.
The Process of Collaborative Law
In a collaborative law process, both parties commit to a series of collaborative meetings with their respective attorneys. The meetings, which take place in a neutral, private location, are used to discuss the legal, financial, and emotional issues that need to be resolved in the case.
Additionally, each party agrees in writing not to go to court during the collaborative law process and to disclose all information necessary to resolve the issues at hand.
During the collaborative law process, both parties work together to find solutions that are mutually beneficial to everyone involved. Along the way, both parties and their attorneys also have access to a team of professionals who can assist with any additional issues that may arise during the process.
The Benefits of Collaborative Law
Collaborative law has several benefits over traditional litigation. It can be less expensive than the traditional court process since the parties involved are not spending significant amounts of money on their attorneys preparing for litigation.
Additionally, the collaborative law process helps to preserve relationships, especially important when the parties involved are parents and will need to co-parent together in the future.
Another significant benefit of collaborative law is that the process ensures that both parties feel as though they are part of the resolution, rather than simply having their resolution handed to them by a judge.
Finally, collaborative law is also much quicker than the traditional litigation process. The collaborative law process typically takes between six and 18 months, depending on the complexity of the issues involved.
When to Consider Collaborative Law
If you reside in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and are facing a family law dispute and are considering collaborative law, it is important to weigh the cost-benefit analysis of the process against the traditional litigation process.
However, if you are open to a collaborative approach and want to resolve your issues in a more amicable manner, collaborative law may be the perfect option for you. Collaborative law provides an innovative solution to costly and conflict-driven family law disputes that can leave both parties dissatisfied.
American Bar Association – Collaborative Law offers more information on the collaborative law process and how to find a collaboratively trained attorney. Choose collaborative law; choose a more collaborative, respectful, and efficient approach.