Chief Judge of Hillsborough County Endorses Collaborative Model in Administrative Order

Tampa’s Chief Judge Manuel Menendez has signed Administrative Order S-2012-041 endorsing the collaborative model of alternative dispute resolution for divorce and other family law cases in Hillsborough County.  From the administrative order:

The Florida Supreme Court recognized that family cases needed “a system that provided nonadversarial alternatives and flexibility of alternatives; a system that preserved rather than destroyed family relationships;…and a system that facilitated the process chosen by the parties.”  In re Report of the Family Law Steering Committee, 749 So. 2d 518, 523 (Fla. 2001).

The Florida Supreme Court’s acceptance of recommendations for a model family court is consistent with the principles of the collaborative practice model because the collaborative process empowers parties to make their own decisions guided and assisted by counsel in a setting outside of court.  The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit supports the philosophy that the interdisciplinary collaborative model may be a suitable alternative to full scale adversarial litigation in family law cases if the parties agree to such a model.

By the power vested in the chief judge under article V, section 2(d), Florida Constitution; section 43.26, Florida Statutes; and Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215(b)(2), it is therefore ORDERED:

Collaborative Practice Model

The collaborative practice model is confidential and utilizes interest-based negotiations to resolve disputes through the structured assistance of collaboratively trained professionals, including, but not limited to lawyers, financial professionals, mental health professionals, mediators, and other neutral professionals.  The collaborative practice model is authorized in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida to resolve dissolution of marriage cases and other family law matters…

If you have question regarding the collaborative process and you wish to schedule a consultation with a collaboratively trained Tampa Bay attorney, contact The Law Firm of Adam B. Cordover, P.A., at (813) 443-0615, or fill out our online form.

Attorney Adam B. Cordover was on the task force that drafted and proposed an administrative order on collaborative divorce.  Adam has also received advanced training in the collaborative model and is on the Executive Board of the Collaborative Divorce Institute of Tampa Bay.