Collaborative Divorce : Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

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.

Are Florida Divorce Courts Anti-Dad?

March 14, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Kids, See Kids //Tags: collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, Collaborative Law, collaborative practice, father's rightsby Adam

Over the past few years, there has been a movement to overhaul the alimony and child custody laws of Florida and other states. This is because husbands and fathers have felt like they are under siege in the family law court system. They have a glimmer of hope that, if only the laws were changed, then maybe they could get the respect and dignity that they deserve when entering a courtroom.

Map of Florida Circuit Courts

So this bring up a fundamental question: Are Florida’s family law courts anti-father?

Collaborative Law Process Act Protects Families’ Privacy

March 7, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Divorce, Florida Statutes, Legislative Update, Private Divorce //Tags: collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, Collaborative Law, collaborative practice, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Lawby Adam

Last Friday, the Florida Senate passed its version of HB-967, the Collaborative Law Process Act, priming Florida to become the 14th state to pass a version of the Uniform Collaborative Law Act.

The bill, which was voted on in the Florida Senate by 39-0 after passing the Florida House last month by 117-0, is now enrolled and expected to be signed by the governor. At the earliest, the Collaborative Law Process Act becomes binding on July 1, 2016. However, it may take longer, as the bill itself states that it will not go into effect until 30 days after the Florida Supreme Court adopts Rules of Procedure and Rules of Professional Responsibility consistent with the bill. It is my understanding that proposed rules have been provided or will be provided to the Supreme Court.

[Update: On March 24, 2016, Governor Scott Signed the Collaborative Law Process Act]

The Collaborative Law Process Act, which applies to divorce, paternity, and other family law matters, does several things:

Collaborative Divorce Books

March 1, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, Collaborative Law, collaborative practice, Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionalsby Adam

I recently wrote a blog post for the new website of the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals on books about collaborative divorce books. There are a lot of great books out there, including books geared towards people going through or thinking about divorce. Below are the books I discussed:

thecollaborativewaytodivorce Stuart G. Webb & Ronald D. Ousky, The Collaborative Way to Divorce: The Revolutionary Method That Results in Less Stress, Lower Costs, and Happier Kids – Without Going to Court (Plume 2007).

Divorce Lawyer Client Review: A Complicated Divorce Goes Collaborative

February 24, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Divorce, Divorce Process, Family Law News, Family Lawyer Reviews / Testimonials, LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, Collaborative Law, collaborative practice, Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, gay and lesbian couples, gay and lesbian parents, gay marriage, gay marriage ban, gay rights, lesbian rights, LGBT family law, LGBT family law rights, same sex couples, same sex divorce, same sex marriage, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Lawby Adam

Recently, I came across a very complicated divorce matter where two women had been battling in the court system for six years, even before the State of Florida recognized their marriage. One of the women ended up firing her aggressive trial attorney and hiring me because I offered an alternative: collaborative divorce. Once everyone agreed to stop fighting, we were able to reach an agreement within just a few months’ time.

Lawyer Adam Cordover | Top Attorney Divorce

That client, Pattie, recently wrote a touching review about my paralegal, Jennifer, and I at avvo.com. You can find the review below.

As I am required to note by the Florida Bar, please understand that every case is different, and you may not receive the same or similar results.

The Law Firm of Adam B. Cordover & Staff are amazing, professional caring people. Please know that I don’t mean for this review to be long or boring, my intent is to shed hope & shine light into your present life from my past experience and situation.

My situation was very complicated from the start being a same sex marriage which for years was not recognized in the State of Florida until January 2015 and two properties involved.

Read more →

Video: FACP Collaborative Divorce Roundtable

February 22, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News //Tags: collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mediation, collaborative practice, Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Lawby Adam

I recently got together with Dr. Jim Morris, a psychologist from Clearwater, and Ed Sachs, a certified public accountant based out of Miami, for a roundtable discussion on collaborative divorce. Dr. Morris is co-author of Mindful Co-Parenting: A Child-Friendly Path Through Divorce, and Mr. Sachs is Vice President of the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“FACP”).

You can find the video of the roundtable discussion, recorded for the FACP, after the jump:

Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals

February 21, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce //Tags: civil collaborative practice, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practiceby Adam

Collaborative practice is a form of private dispute resolution where parties and their attorneys agree that they will focus all of their time, energy, and money on reaching an agreement. Oftentimes, experts in the realm of accounting, finances, and relationships are brought in to help the parties.

Collaborative practice has mainly been used in the area of divorce and family law as an alternative to public courtroom fights. What is less well known is that it is also being used in the civil law arena to resolve wills, trusts, and guardianship disputes, insurance and malpractice matters, and business dissolutions.

In recognition of the growing role of collaborative practice in civil areas, in 2015 the Collaborative Family Law Council of Florida, a statewide umbrella group with over 450 members, changed its name to the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“FACP”). The FACP also recently unveiled its newly redesigned website, which is accessible at http://www.collaborativepracticeflorida.com/.

2016 Collaborative Law Process Act Making Progress in Florida Legislature

February 2, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Divorce, Legislative Update //Tags: alimony, child custody, child support, collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, collaborative practice, divorce, equitable distribution, parental responsibility, parenting plan, postnuptial agreement, prenuptial agreement, property division, relocation, time-sharing, visitationby Adam

Senate Bill 972, the “Collaborative Law Process Act,” is making its way through the Florida Senate and will hopefully become law this summer.

[UPDATE 2: Governor Scott signed the Collaborative Law Process Act on 3/24/16]

[UPDATE: The Collaborative Law Process Act Passed the Florida Legislature on 3/4/16. Learn more about it in the following Article: Collaborative Law Process Act Protects Families’ Privacy]

The Collaborative Law Process Act creates a legal framework for families to resolve disputes outside of court. The bill specifies that family law matters under chapters 61 or 742 of the Florida Statutes may be resolved via the collaborative process. These family law matters include the following:

Divorce;
Alimony and child support;
Marital property and debt distribution;
Child custody and visitation (also known as time-sharing and parental responsibility);
Parental relocation with a child;
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements; and
Paternity.

Families in Tampa Bay, Greater Sarasota, and throughout the state of Florida are already utilizing the collaborative process to resolve divorce and other matters privately and respectfully, but a big improvement with this bill is that there will be a statutory framework to ensure discussions had in the collaborative process can be enforced as confidential. Read more →

Family Diplomacy Proud Sponsor of WUSF / NPR

February 1, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News //Tags: collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative facilitator, collaborative family law, collaborative financial professional, Collaborative Law, collaborative mental health professional, collaborative practice, divorceby Adam

Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm is now a proud sponsor of WUSF, Tampa Bay’s local National Public Radio (“NPR”) partner.

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You may periodically hear on NPR that “Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm reminds you that divorce need not be destructive. More information about collaborative divorce can be found at (813) 443-0615 or FamilyDiplomacy.com.”

Jennifer Gunnin Guest Speaker at Collaborative Staff Training

January 20, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News //Tags: collaborative divorce, collaborative divorce trainingby Adam

Family Diplomacy is proud to announce that our own paralegal, Jennifer Gunnin, is scheduled to be a guest speaker at a unique collaborative training geared towards managing attorneys and staff: Managing Your Collaborative Practice for Passion & Profit. The training is hosted by Joryn Jenkins of Open Palm Law and also includes a guest appearance by internationally renowned collaborative lawyer and mediator Forrest (Woody) Mosten.

Managing Your Collaborative Practice for Passion & Profit is taking place this Friday, January 22, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the Hillsborough County Bar Association building, located at 1610 North Tampa Street, Tampa, Florida 33602. Registrants may also attend via live stream over the internet.

Below is from a recent flyer:

Next Generation Divorce Honors Hillsborough Judge Ashley Moody

January 19, 2016/0 Comments/in Collaborative Divorce, Family Law News //Tags: collaborative attorney, collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, Collaborative Law, collaborative practice, family law judges, Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce, Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law, thirteenth judicial circuitby Adam

As one of my last duties as president of Next Generation Divorce, I had the opportunity to induct Judge Ashley Moody of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit as an Honorary Member of the collaborative practice group at our December holiday party. Judge Moody, based out of the Edgecomb Courthouse in Tampa, Florida, has been a strong supporter of the use of collaborative family law as a method to help families resolve issues related to divorce and other matters in a private, nonadversarial, and respectful setting.

Judge Moody’s induction into Next Generation Divorce was announced in the January 15th edition of the Florida Bar News: