Family Law

The traditional divorce model pits husband versus wife, mother versus father. Collaborative Law is a refreshing team-oriented alternative. Each client retains a separate attorney whose job is to counsel the client and help resolve disputes. The attorneys work together to help both clients meet their needs. Open communication is advanced by a trained facilitator, while support and property options are developed by a neutral financial professional. The clients, attorneys, and other team members agree beforehand that the matter will not be brought into the court system until a full agreement is reached.

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO FAMILY MATTERS

The Collaborative Process allows for flexible, creative solutions to a family law matter. The team explores options that look beyond a legal framework by incorporating the skills and expertise of the facilitator and financial professional. Clients are encouraged to focus on the best interests of their family, rather than rigid negotiation positions, to reach their goals. In the unlikely event that a settlement is not reached, the Collaborative attorneys withdraw and litigation lawyers may be retained. The knowledge that the Collaborative attorneys cannot bring the case in front of a judge further permits the parties to speak openly about potential settlement options (and frees attorneys from conducting exhaustive, costly opposition research).

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Sarasota Divorce Law Firm Review: “[The] Team You Want In Your Corner”

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We understand that even under the best of circumstances, a Sarasota divorce (or divorce anywhere in Florida) is tough, and so we are humbled when our past clients have taken the time to let others know about their experience. Divorce can often feel like an uphill battle, filled with emotional and financial challenges that can leave individuals feeling overwhelmed. The following review was left by a family law client at the Google Page for our Sarasota Collaborative Family Law Office page, and it highlights not only their satisfaction but also the essential elements that make our firm a trusted choice in such a critical time:

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Cordover Presents to CP Canada on Practical Use of Collaborative Divorce Statistics

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On February 5, 2026, Adam B. Cordover presented to CP Canada, Canada’s national Collaborative Practice organization, on the topic “Going Beyond Statistics: What Florida’s Collaborative Practice Survey Outcomes Mean and How to Replicate It.” The presentation was part of a broader conversation about how Collaborative Practice can strengthen its credibility and long-term sustainability through thoughtful use of real-world data.

Cordover co-presented with Dr. Randy Heller of Nova Southeastern University. Together, they co-authored the article “Statistics on Collaborative Divorce in Florida,” published in Volume LV, Issue 1 (2025) of the Florida Bar Family Law Section Commentator Magazine. Their work reflects a decade-long effort conducted by the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals to better understand how Collaborative Matters actually resolve in practice.

Why Florida Invested in Long-Term Data Collection

The presentation began by explaining why Florida undertook sustained data collection in the first place. For many years, conversations about Collaborative Practice relied heavily on anecdotes. At the same time, judges often only heard about Collaborative cases when they failed, not when they quietly and discreetly resolved. Florida’s survey was designed to help fill that gap by providing credible information that supports informed decision-making by clients, professionals, and institutions.

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Free Florida CLE for Lawyers: Learn When to Refer Clients to Collaborative Divorce

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Collaborative Divorce offers Florida lawyers, regardless of practice area or professional setting, a private and discreet referral option for clients facing divorce, and you can earn free Florida Bar CLE credit while learning how to determine when that referral makes sense.

As a lawyer, you are often the first professional a client turns to when divorce becomes unavoidable. When that client is a lawyer, physician, executive, business owner, LGBTQ+ professional, public figure, the stakes are higher. Courtroom exposure, public filings, and escalated conflict can affect careers, reputations, businesses, and families in lasting ways.

Many lawyers want a referral option that aligns with those realities but understandably want to learn more before recommending a process they do not practice themselves. This free, on-demand Florida CLE (approved by the Florida Bar through July 31, 2027) was created specifically for lawyers who want to understand Collaborative Divorce well enough to confidently discuss it with the right clients, while earning CLE credit at the same time.

Quick Answer

You can earn 1.0 hour of Florida Bar–approved CLE credit for free by watching an on-demand program that explains how Collaborative Divorce works in Florida and when it may be an appropriate referral option for your clients.  Instantly access the CLE by filling out the form below.

Key Takeaways

  • Free registration and on-demand access
  • Florida Bar–approved CLE credit (1.0 hour)
  • Designed for lawyers considering referral options
  • Focused on privacy, confidentiality, and dignified resolution

Why This CLE Matters for Your Clients

Litigation is not wrong, but it is not right for every family. For clients whose lives or livelihoods could be impacted by public divorce proceedings, the process itself can be as damaging as the outcome.

Collaborative Divorce offers a way to resolve divorce privately, outside of court, with a structured team approach focused on resolution rather than escalation. This CLE gives you a clear framework for understanding when Collaborative Divorce may be a good fit and when it may not, so your referral decisions are informed rather than theoretical.

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Tampa Family Diplomacy Collaborative Divorce Review: “Couldn’t Be Happier!”

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Grateful for a Five-Star Client Review from Our Tampa Office

When you are going through divorce, especially one that involves emotional stress, finances, or the future of your family, the office and team you choose matters. We are honored to share a recent five-star review that a client who entrusted us with their Collaborative Divorce left on the Google Page for our Tampa Collaborative Family Law Office.

Their words reflect what we aim to provide every client: clarity, compassion, and a process that puts you back in control rather than placing your future in the hands of a judge.

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New Collaborative Divorce Study Shows High Success Rate

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A newly published study about Statistics on Collaborative Divorce in Florida sheds light on why more families are turning to this private, respectful alternative to traditional courtroom divorce—because it works.

The article, co-authored by Family Diplomacy’s managing attorney Adam B. Cordover and Dr. Randy Heller, a professor at Nova Southeastern University and fellow leader in this field of alternative dispute resolution, was featured in the Florida Bar Family Law Section’s Commentator magazine,  Volume XLV, Issue 1, 2025. We are proud of Adam’s continued leadership in the Collaborative Divorce field, both here in Florida and internationally, and of the insights this study provides for lawmakers, judges, and professionals evaluating the efficacy of this process and families considering their options.

Key Statistics on Collaborative Divorce in Florida from the Study

The numbers, based on responses to a Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals research survey filled out by Collaborative Professionals from 2014 to 2024 at the end of their cases, tell a powerful story about the effectiveness of Collaborative Divorce in Florida:

  • 85% of cases ended in a full agreement. This mirrors a 2010 study by the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, which found an 86% resolution rate. In other words, the vast majority of couples who begin the Collaborative Process reach a complete resolution without having to fight in court.

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Family Diplomacy Hires Former Physician’s Executive Assistant and Medical Interpreter

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At Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, we understand that every client’s journey begins with the first call or message. That initial connection sets the tone for the entire process. This is why we are thrilled to introduce our new Welcome Services Liaison, Isamar Abudeye.

Isamar is often the first voice and smile that clients encounter, and she ensures that each person who reaches out to our firm is met with professionalism, warmth, and discretion.

A Professional Background of Excellence

Isamar brings a rare combination of organizational expertise and creative insight. With a career spanning executive assistance, recruitment, and marketing, she knows how to create seamless systems while never losing sight of the human element. She helps streamline communication, coordinates schedules, and guides clients through the onboarding process with care and clarity. Read more →

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Family Diplomacy’s Adam B. Cordover Launches LawyerFI Podcast on Financial Independence

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At Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, we are proud to share exciting news about our managing attorney, Adam B. Cordover. In addition to being a leader in Collaborative Divorce in Florida and abroad, Adam has just launched a brand-new project: the LawyerFI Podcast.

This podcast is designed for lawyers and other high earners who want to rethink their relationship with work, money, and freedom. The first official episode, released this week, dives into one of the most practical and transformative concepts in personal finance: the 4% Rule.

The podcast can be found on the LawyerFI website, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and most podcast platforms.

Why This Podcast Matters

Our team has seen firsthand how Adam has dedicated his career to helping families find healthier ways to resolve disputes without the stress of court. With this podcast, he’s taking that same problem-solving mindset to the financial side of life, giving professionals the tools to create more stability, choice, and peace of mind.

Lawyers in particular are trained to chase billable hours, not to build wealth. Financial literacy was never part of law school, and yet financial pressure weighs heavily on many professionals. Through the LawyerFI Podcast, Adam brings education and inspiration to help lawyers and other high earners design lives with more freedom—both inside and outside of their careers.  Adam is not a financial planner, accountant, or tax attorney, and the podcast is not financial, tax, or legal advice.  Adam is not selling financial products or services, he is just using his deep knowledge on complex financial topics, which has helped his divorce clients throughout the years, to educate other professionals.

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Cordover Launches LawyerFI Podcast – Equipping Lawyers and Other Professionals to Achieve Financial Independence

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Family Diplomacy Managing Attorney Adam B. Cordover, a Florida-based Collaborative Divorce lawyer and internationally recognized leader in out-of-court dispute resolution, has launched a brand-new podcast: LawyerFI – Financial Independence for Legal and Other Professionals.

If you’re a lawyer who wants to get off the cycle of burnout, billable hours, and financial confusion, this podcast was made for you.

The preview episode is now live. Watch and listen below or on the LawyerFI website:

Welcome to the LawyerFI Podcast – A New Path for Purpose-Driven Legal Professionals

You can also find it on the following platforms:

Equipping Lawyers and Other Professionals To Achieve Financial Independence

Cordover created LawyerFI after more than a decade working with high-achieving professionals—lawyers, doctors, business owners—who were doing well on the outside but quietly struggling with money, time, and fulfillment.

He understands the problem because he lived it. Even after earning a law degree from a private university, building a successful practice, and publishing a book with the American Bar Association, he found himself wondering why financial stability still felt out of reach.  As addressed in the preview episode, he then started taking affirmative steps towards financial independence.

LawyerFI shares Adam’s story and is a podcast designed to help you take control of your finances, reclaim your time, and start building a legal or other professional career that actually supports the life you want.

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How Our Refundable Evergreen Retainer Works: No Surprises, No Commitments

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How a Refundable Evergreen Retainer Works at Our Law Firm

At Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, we recently transitioned from using a non-refundable initial fee to a refundable evergreen retainer. This change creates far more flexibility for our clients and reflects the way we practice law.

Many—if not most—family law firms in Tampa Bay still use a non-refundable initial fee structure for their retainers. That means once you place a deposit with them, you don’t get it back, even if circumstances change (these fees must be reasonable, and the Florida Bar would likely still require a refund, for example, if you changed your mind immediately after retaining the firm). For years, we followed that same model. But because we work exclusively in out-of-court dispute resolution—specializing in Collaborative Divorce—we heard concerns from potential clients.

People would ask, “What happens to my non-refundable initial fee if my spouse decides they only want to fight in court?” While this is exceedingly rare (hardly anyone truly wants to battle it out in a courtroom), we understand why it gave pause. With our refundable evergreen retainer, you now have peace of mind: if you ever decide to go in a different direction, you’ll receive a refund of all unearned funds.

This client-centered approach ensures you stay in control throughout your case. Let’s break down what it means and how it works.

What Is an Evergreen Retainer?

An evergreen retainer is a predictable way for you and the firm to make sure there are always funds available to cover the work we’re doing on your case. When you hire us, you’ll place an initial refundable deposit into a special trust account. This isn’t a flat fee—it’s your money, and we only withdraw from it as we earn fees for the actual time we spend helping you or to cover certain costs, such as a filing fee with the clerk of the court.

As your case progresses, we’ll send you invoices showing how much time was spent and for what tasks. If the balance in your account drops below the agreed amount, we’ll replenish it by charging the credit or debit card you’ve placed on file. This ensures we can continue working without interruptions. And here’s the key part: when your matter is complete, any unused funds in your trust balance are refunded back to you.

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Final TBCT Virtual Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Family Law Training (August-September 2025)

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Step into a Better Way to Help Families: Final Virtual Introductory Collaborative Divorce Training This Year

Are you a mental health professional, attorney, or financial expert searching for a way to help families resolve conflict without court battles, without trauma, and with dignity? Do you want to be part of a team that helps clients navigate divorce with compassion and clarity—while staying true to your own professional values?

This is your opportunity.

The Tampa Bay Collaborative Trainers—an internationally recognized interdisciplinary team—will be offering our final virtual introductory Collaborative Divorce training later this year (we will still be available for practice groups to bring us to their locale for in-person trainings). This immersive course is specifically focused on the Neutral Facilitator / One Coach / Neutral Mental Health Professional model of Collaborative Practice, and it’s designed for professionals who are ready to make a difference.

Whether you’re brand new to Collaborative Divorce or you’re looking to refresh your skills and reconnect with the heart of this work, we invite you to join us for this powerful experience.

Where

This is a virtual training that will take place 100% on Zoom.

When

August 13, 2025 1:30 – 5:30 PM Eastern Time (ET)
August 20, 2025 1:30 – 5:30 PM ET
August 27, 2025 1:30 – 5:30 PM ET
September 3, 2025 1:30 – 5:30 PM ET

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