Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm
  • Practice Areas
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Adoption
    • Divorce
    • Legal Name Change
    • LGBTQ+ Family Law
    • Mediation
    • Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
  • Attorney Profile
    • Adam B. Cordover – Attorney Profile
    • Jennifer Gunnin – Executive Paralegal & Client Care Specialist Profile
    • Isamar Abudeye – Welcome Services Liaison Profile
  • Reach Out to Us
  • Locations
    • Tampa Collaborative Family Law Office
    • Saint Petersburg Collaborative Family Law Office
    • Sarasota Collaborative Family Law Office
  • Education Center
    • Blog
    • Florida Divorce 101 Video Library
    • Free Florida CLE for Lawyers: Learn When to Refer Clients to Collaborative Divorce
    • FAQs
      • Resources
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
CONTACT US - 813.443.0615

COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW IN FLORIDA. No matter how you look at it, divorce and family law matters are difficult to go through. Expectations of stability are shattered,

mistrust grows, and bills pile up. And then the litigation begins. Attorneys file and serve petitions, counterpetitions, requests to produce, and motions to compel. Each party hires dueling mental health experts to convince a judge that he or she should have more time with the children. Privacy is eliminated as each party’s life is probed and publicly questioned so that one side may gain a tactical advantage.

But there is a different way. A more civilized way. And it is called Collaborative Family Law (also known as Collaborative Divorce or Collaborative Practice).

We are a Collaborative law firm dedicated to helping people resolve personal disputes without destroying their families. We encourage the use of the Collaborative Family Law model in divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, post-judgment, prenuptial, and most other family law cases.  Further, Adam B. Cordover is an internationally-recognized leader in Collaborative Practice, a trainer who teaches other professionals how to help families Collaboratively, and author of an upcoming American Bar Association book on Collaborative Law.

Video: Florida Lawyer on Why She No Longer Litigates

November 9, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Mediation /by Adam

I no longer litigate.  This means that I do not appear in contested court hearings in Tampa or any other area in which I practice.  I have made this decision because I have found that most people who are divorcing do not want to tear down their spouse in court; rather they want to move on with their lives, as peacefully, privately, and quickly as possible.

In the video below, collaborative attorney Enid Miller Ponn Discusses why she no longer litigates:

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-11-09 08:26:592016-11-07 08:19:53Video: Florida Lawyer on Why She No Longer Litigates

Cordover Leads Workshop At International Collaborative Conference

November 7, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News, LGBT Family Law Matters, Training //Tags: collaborative divorce, collaborative divorce training, International Academy of Collaborative Professionalsby Adam

Tampa attorney Adam B. Cordover lead a workshop at the 17th Annual Educational and Networking Forum of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”).  The Forum took place in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada, and was attended by hundreds of attorneys, mental health professionals, financial professionals, mediators, and other supportive of helping families resolve disputes respectfully and privately via the collaborative process.

Cordover lead the workshop alongside Barrie, Ontario lawyer Brian Galbraith and Seattle, Washington attorney Kevin Scudder.  The program was called “Collaborative Multiverse,” and the idea was to lead a townhall-style debate and discussion among experienced collaborative practitioners on issues affecting collaborative practice.

2016 Iacp Adam Brian Kevin - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Brian Galbraith, Adam B. Cordover, and Kevin Scudder at the 17th Annual IACP Forum (2016)

One topic that was discussed was determining the best collaborative model to use for each particular family.  Different parts of the world predominantly use different arrangements of professionals to resolve divorce and other issues.  In Florida, the main model that is used is known as the Neutral Facilitator model, where each party has an attorney, a neutral facilitator with a mental health licensure helps with parenting issues and ensures discussions are future-focused, and a neutral financial professional aids in creating family budgets and ensures financial transparency and disclosure.

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-11-07 08:15:002016-11-06 10:40:41Cordover Leads Workshop At International Collaborative Conference

Introducing Tampa Bay Collaborative Trainers

October 14, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News, Training //Tags: collaborative divorce trainingby Adam

We are in exciting times!  In March of this year, Governor Rick Scott signed the Collaborative Law Process Act, and rules of procedure and professional conduct are pending before the Florida Supreme Court.  Divorce attorneys and other professionals are realizing that being trained in the collaborative method is now essential for any family law-related practice.  This presents a tremendous opportunity for expansion for all of our practice groups.

Tbct-Vert-Logo

It is in this environment that we are excited to announce the formation of a new training team!  Tampa Bay Collaborative Trainers offer a customized two-day introductory interdisciplinary training in the neutral facilitator/neutral mental health professional model at a low-risk cost structure that will help you build a vibrant collaborative community. 

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-10-14 07:45:052016-10-13 21:59:46Introducing Tampa Bay Collaborative Trainers

Free Communication Tools for Collaborative Law Cases

October 10, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: collaborative divorce, communication tools, family law technologyby Adam

One of the great things about collaborative law is that families are not handcuffed by the over-scheduled dockets of judges, nor are they bound by the confines of the overcrowded courthouse.  This provides families and professionals with a lot of freedom on how, when, and where they make long-lasting decisions and resolve disputes.

Still, it can sometimes be daunting to organize meetings around the busy lives of spouses and practitioners.  Here are four tools to help communication in collaborative cases, and the best part is that do not cost a dime.

Doodle

One of the toughest initial tasks of any collaborative divorce case is to find a time that works for all of the professionals to plan out how to best help out the family.  Similarly, carving a time that also works for both spouses  for the first full team meeting adds two more calendars to consider.

225323757 640 - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Fortunately, Doodle provides an easy and free way to help coordinate schedules.  Simply go to their website, provide some basic information such as title for the event, location, description, your name, and your e-mail address, and then fill out a grid for all of the proposed dates and times of your meeting.  Next, provide the e-mail addresses of the people with whom you need to schedule, and Doodle will send out a message inviting everyone to fill out the grid.  Every time someone responds, you will get a notification, and Doodle will indicate the date(s) and time(s) that works best for everyone.  If no time and date works for everyone, simply create another Doodle.

FreeConferenceCall.com

I have found that in person meetings are generally the best way to communicate in collaborative cases.  However, in person meetings are not always possible, and sometimes they are not desirable.

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-10-10 08:23:452016-10-09 12:18:56Free Communication Tools for Collaborative Law Cases

Video: Social Worker Gary Direnfeld Discusses Collaborative Law

October 7, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: social workerby Adam

Gary Direnfeld is a social worker based in Dundas, Ontario, where the courts consider him an expert in social work, marital therapy, child development, and custody and access matters.  And Gary has a message for spouses considering divorce: stay out of the courts.

I got to know Gary this summer at a training in Chicago where we were learning to teach divorce lawyers and practitioners how to become peacemakers.  He is passionate about his work to help families in difficult circumstances.  In the short video below, Gary discusses an alternative to divorce court battles that he recommends: collaborative law.

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-10-07 08:23:432016-10-05 21:40:26Video: Social Worker Gary Direnfeld Discusses Collaborative Law

Video: Tampa Hosts 4th Annual Collaborative Law Conference

September 30, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: collaborative divorceby Adam

In May 2016, Tampa hosted the 4th Annual Conference of the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals.  The conference ended up being the largest gathering of collaboratively-trained attorneys, mental health professionals, and financial professionals in the organization’s history.

You can find a video of highlights of the conference after the jump.

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-09-30 08:48:352016-09-29 17:02:37Video: Tampa Hosts 4th Annual Collaborative Law Conference

World of Collaborative Practice: A Father Discusses His Collaborative Divorce

September 23, 2016/1 Comment/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News //Tags: collaborative divorceby Adam

The World of Collaborative Practice Magazine is an online forum for collaborative professionals to write about news as well as the latest trends in collaborative practice.  On September 15, 2016, the Magazine published the transcript of an iHeart radio interview from here in Tampa of a father discussing his collaborative divorce.  The father, “Claire,” appeared with his collaborative attorney Julia Best Chase, along with Family Diplomacy managing attorney Adam B. Cordover, who represented Clair’s wife.

The World Of Collaborative Practice

You can find a portion of the article reproduced after the jump.

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-09-23 09:46:582016-09-20 21:59:37World of Collaborative Practice: A Father Discusses His Collaborative Divorce

Proposed Collaborative Divorce Professional Conduct Rule Published in Florida Bar News

September 9, 2016/1 Comment/in Collaborative Divorce, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, Florida Statutes, Legislative Update //Tags: Collaborative Law Process Act, Uniform Collaborative Law Actby Adam

In March of 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law the Collaborative Law Process Act (“CLPA”).  The CLPA, among other things, protects communications within the collaborative process so that participants can be more open in their discussions and can rest assured that proposals and comments made while trying to reach agreement cannot later be used against them.

However, the CLPA does not go into effect until after the Florida Supreme Court adopts Rules of Professional Conduct and Rules of Procedure.

Florida Supreme Court Seal 2014 - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Proposed rules have been approved by the Florida Board of Governors, and they have been published in the August 15, 2016 edition of the Florida Bar News for comment.  Once the comment period is over, the Florida Supreme Court will determine whether it will approve the rules.

You can find the proposed Rule of Professional Conduct (4-1.19) after the jump (the proposed Rule of Procedure is published in a separate post):

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-09-09 09:25:182016-09-10 06:50:39Proposed Collaborative Divorce Professional Conduct Rule Published in Florida Bar News

Proposed Collaborative Law Procedural Rule Published in Florida Bar News

September 7, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, Florida Statutes, Legislative Update //Tags: Collaborative Law Process Act, Uniform Collaborative Law Actby Adam

In March of 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law the Collaborative Law Process Act (“CLPA”).  The CLPA, among other things, protects communications within the collaborative process so that participants can be more open in their discussions and can rest assured that proposals and comments made while trying to reach agreement cannot later be used against them.

However, the CLPA does not go into effect until after the Florida Supreme Court adopts Rules of Professional Conduct and Rules of Procedure.

Florida Supreme Court Seal 2014 - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Proposed rules have been approved by the Florida Board of Governors, and they have been published in the August 15, 2016 edition of the Florida Bar News for comment.  Once the comment period is over, the Florida Supreme Court will determine whether it will approve the rules.

You can find the proposed Family Law Rule of Procedure (12.475) after the jump (the Rule of Conduct is published in a separate post):

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-09-07 09:25:552016-09-10 06:49:11Proposed Collaborative Law Procedural Rule Published in Florida Bar News

Cordover Mentioned in New Book on Marketing Your Collaborative Practice

September 5, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News //Tags: collaborative practiceby Adam

Joryn Jenkins, a Tampa Bay collaborative attorney and multi-book author, has recently published her latest offering, “Open for Business: Changing the Way the World Gets Divorced.”  The book focuses on marketing for collaborative professionals.

51Tmgbs4X L. Sx398 Bo1,204,203,200 - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Joryn, a friend and colleague of Family Diplomacy managing attorney Adam B. Cordover, acknowledges Cordover’s impact on the collaborative community along with founders and leaders of the collaborative movement:

Read more →

https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2016-09-05 09:25:202016-09-05 16:47:14Cordover Mentioned in New Book on Marketing Your Collaborative Practice
Page 19 of 38«‹1718192021›»
Search Search

Categories

  • Divorce
  • Money & Property
  • Collaborative Divorce
  • Kids & Divorce
  • Mediation
  • LGBT Family Law Matters
  • Adoption
  • Case Law Update
  • Family Law News
  • FAQs
  • Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure
  • Florida Statutes
  • Legislative Update
  • Legal Name Change
  • Unbundled Legal Services

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Can Bar or Bat Mitzvah Expenses Be Addressed in a Florida Divorce?
  • How is a Real Estate Syndication Divided in a Florida Divorce?
  • Special Needs Parenting Course Requirement in Florida Divorce
  • Asset Protection in Florida Divorce: Why Physicians and Attorneys May Want to Keep Retirement Accounts Over Brokerage Accounts
  • Divorce 101 Video: How is Child Support Calculated in Florida?

Want to Learn More?

When Discretion Matters, Count On Us

Reach Out to Us

Lawyer Adam Cordover | Lawyer Divorce
Lawyer Adam Cordover | Top Attorney Divorce

Our Offices (by appointment)

TAMPA - 3030 North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 150, Tampa, FL 33607

SAINT PETERSBURG - 475 Central Avenue, Suite 205, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

SARASOTA - 1858 Ringling Boulevard, Suite 110, Sarasota, FL 34236

Accepting Clients Throughout the State of Florida

Want to Learn More? When Discretion Matters, Count On Us.

Reach Out to Us

Recent Posts

  • Can Bar or Bat Mitzvah Expenses Be Addressed in a Florida Divorce? September 22, 2026
  • How is a Real Estate Syndication Divided in a Florida Divorce? September 14, 2026
  • Special Needs Parenting Course Requirement in Florida Divorce August 31, 2026
  • Asset Protection in Florida Divorce: Why Physicians and Attorneys May Want to Keep Retirement Accounts Over Brokerage Accounts August 10, 2026
  • Divorce 101 Video: How is Child Support Calculated in Florida? July 30, 2026
© 2025 FAMILY DIPLOMACY: A COLLABORATIVE LAW FIRM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Rss this site
  • Home
  • Practice Areas
  • Attorney Profile
  • Schedule a Consultation or Learn More
  • Locations
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Make A Payment
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top