Tag Archive for: Tampa Bay Collaborative Family Law

First Step To An Amicable Divorce: Joint Divorce Process Options Meeting

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If you and your spouse are considering divorce in Florida, you may be worried about where to begin. Most separating families aren’t looking for a court battle; they just want to move forward, protect their privacy, and make sure they (and their kids, if any), are okay.

That’s exactly why Family Diplomacy offers a Joint Divorce Process Options Meeting, sometimes called a joint divorce consultation or amicable divorce options meeting. It’s a calm, informative way for both spouses to learn about their main divorce options – litigation, mediation, and Collaborative Divorce – before making any major decisions.

How the Joint Divorce Process Options Meeting Works

This meeting is a one-time, educational conversation with both spouses together. We meet on Zoom to discuss the main process options for divorce in Florida. It just costs our normal hourly rate, and you’ll learn what each option looks like, the pros and cons, and what level of privacy, cooperation, and support each allows.  By the end of the meeting, you likely will be able to make a decision about which option your family wishes to pursue.

Before the meeting, we send out a Joint Process Options Meeting waiver for both spouses to sign confirming three important things:

  1. We will not give legal advice or represent either spouse during this meeting; we are only discussing process options.
  2. The discussion is not confidential since both spouses are present and a process option is not yet chosen.
  3. If one spouse chooses to hire Family Diplomacy to represent them, it will only be the spouse who first contacted our office; we cannot represent both spouses.

This clear structure eliminates confusion and maintains fairness. You’ll leave with reliable information, not pressure or legal posturing.

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Professional Athletes and Seasonal Custody Schedules

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For professional athletes, your life does not follow a standard calendar. Half the year may be spent training, traveling for games, or living in another city during the season. The other half may finally bring you back home with more flexible time. That rhythm is part of your career, but it also brings unique challenges when it comes to raising children. If you are going through a divorce, paternity matter, or otherwise establishing parenting rights or a time-sharing schedule, you need a process that respects your schedule, your privacy, and your children’s well-being.

Why Florida’s Standard Parenting Plans Often Fail for Professional Athletes

Typical custody schedules assume both parents live in the same area with relatively predictable routines. They rarely account for long stretches where one parent is away for work. For athletes, sticking to a week-on, week-off plan is impossible when games, travel, and training dominate half the year. Further, generic parenting plans don’t take into account what happens if you are traded or when you retire from professional sports.  Without flexibility and anticipation of future changes, you risk missing meaningful parenting time and leaving your children caught in the middle of scheduling conflicts.

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Conscious Uncoupling and Collaborative Divorce: A Different Way to End a Marriage

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For many, the word divorce brings to mind courtrooms, conflict, and chaos. But there’s a growing movement—both philosophical and legal—toward a different way. One that emphasizes respect, empathy, and forward-looking resolution. This is where the concept of conscious uncoupling intersects with the legal process of Collaborative Divorce.

What Is Conscious Uncoupling?

Conscious uncoupling is the idea that a relationship can end without destroying the people involved. Popularized in part by public figures like Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, the term speaks to the real possibility of ending a marriage with mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and compassion.

In a 2024 PEOPLE article, Paltrow reflected on being “proud” of having used the term when they announced their split in 2014. Another article in Business Insider describes how she and Martin discovered the phrase during their separation, and how they used it to frame their transition in a healthier way.

Rather than blaming one another or escalating tension, couples who choose conscious uncoupling acknowledge that the relationship has served its purpose and now deserves a dignified conclusion. They focus on preserving their individual wellbeing and the wellbeing of any children involved. It’s about moving forward, not tearing each other down.

But philosophy alone only goes so far. That’s where Collaborative Divorce comes in.

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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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FAQs – Collaborative Divorce in Florida: What You Need to Know

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When you or your spouse is a professional going through a divorce, your priorities are clear. You want to protect your family and privacy, avoid the public spectacle of a courtroom, and ensure that your complex financial life is handled with care. Collaborative Divorce offers an approach designed with those very concerns in mind. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Collaborative Divorce that you may be wondering about.

Why is there a Disqualification Clause, and How does it Help You?

One of the things that makes Collaborative Divorce unique is the disqualification clause. In essence, this means that if either spouse decides to go to court or end the process, both Collaborative Attorneys and other team members must withdraw. At first glance, you may wonder why this makes sense. In reality, it’s a protective measure. The clause creates a strong incentive for everyone involved to stay committed to reaching an agreement rather than end up where nobody wants to go: fighting in court. Instead of treating Collaboration as a stepping-stone to litigation, you and your spouse know that the only path forward with your lawyers is to resolve matters respectfully and privately by agreement.

In my experience, this clause is one of the strongest safeguards against escalation. It helps keep conversations solution-focused and mitigates against the likelihood that the case will spin out of control into the courtroom battles you hear about on the news.

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Best Collaborative Divorce Lawyer in Florida – How to Choose

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When you are facing divorce, the lawyer and process you choose can make all the difference. If privacy, respect, and control over the process are important to you, then Collaborative Divorce may be the right path. But not every attorney who calls themselves “collaborative” has the same training or experience. So how do you know you are choosing the best Collaborative Divorce lawyer in Florida?

Below are the key questions you should ask any attorney you are considering.

Has the Lawyer taken the 14-Hour Introductory Collaborative Divorce Training?

The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”) has set Minimum Standards for Collaborative Practitioners which include a requirement to take a 14-hour introductory training.  The IACP has further created standards for what must be included in the training.This 14-hour training ensures the lawyer understands not only the legal aspects of divorce, but also how to work effectively with mental health professionals and financial professionals on your team.

Ask your potential lawyer: Did you take the 14-hour Introductory training? Who were your trainers? Have you gone beyond the basics with advanced training?

For example, Adam B. Cordover, Managing Attorney of Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, completed his Introductory Training in 2011 with the Lone Star Trainers, one of the most respected groups in the field. Since 2014, he has himself been teaching the 14-hour course as well as multi-day advanced trainings throughout the United States, Canada, Israel, and France.  Further, Adam has served as a Board Member of the International Academy of Collaborative professionals and as chair of the IACP Ethics & Standards Committee.

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Intellectual Property in Florida Divorce

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If you’re a professional in Florida facing divorce, you might be wondering about the status of your intellectual property—things like patents, copyrights, or trademarks—when it comes to dividing assets. You’ve worked hard to build these creations, and it’s natural to want to protect them.

Understanding Marital vs. Non-Marital Assets

In Florida, assets and debts are generally divided into two categories: marital and non-marital. Marital assets are typically those acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title. In essence, non-marital assets are those you owned before the marriage or received individually as a gift or inheritance.

So where does intellectual property fit in? If you created the intellectual property during your marriage, it’s likely to be considered a marital asset. If it was something you created beforehand, it might remain non-marital. But as with most things in family law, it can get more complicated.

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Why Your 457 Plan Might Be a Contingent Asset in a Florida Divorce, and What that Means for You

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For physicians, executives, and professionals working in government or the non-profit sector, a 457 deferred compensation plan often plays a key role in long-term financial security. These plans carry unique protections—and can contain unique risks—that require special attention during divorce.

In Florida, a 457 plan is considered a marital asset to the extent contributions occurred during the marriage, plus or minus passive gains or losses. But not all 457 plans are created equal. Whether your plan is governmental or non-governmental, 457(b) or 457(f), affects how it’s classified for division and what options are available to you.

Doctors and Non-Profit Executives Should Known: What Makes a 457 Plan Different?

A 457 plan is a type of deferred compensation plan that allows you to save for retirement. Unlike a 401(k) or IRA, ownership of the funds works differently depending on the type of employer and plan:

  • Governmental 457(b) Plans: Offered by state and local governments, these plans are held in trust or custodial accounts for the exclusive benefit of employees. This means they are protected from the employer’s creditors and are generally considered vested assets for purposes of divorce.
  • Non-Governmental 457(b) Plans: Offered by large non-profits—such as hospital systems or private universities—these plans are not held in trust. Instead, the assets remain part of the employer’s general funds until distribution, making them vulnerable to the employer’s creditors. These are considered contingent assets because your right to receive the funds depends on the employer’s financial health.
  • 457(f) Plans: These are often offered to highly compensated executives as “top-hat” plans. Unlike 457(b) plans, employees must meet specific conditions (like staying with the employer for a certain period) for the money to vest and for the employee to become eligible to receive the funds. If you don’t satisfy those conditions, you forfeit the balance. This makes 457(f) plans even more contingent and subject to greater discounts in divorce valuation.

To understand the key differences between these plans outside of the divorce context, learn more about 457 plans from Dr. Jim Dahle at the White Coat Investor here.

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Can Collaborative Divorce Work If We Don’t Get Along?

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If you’re going through a divorce and communication with your spouse is difficult—or downright hostile—you might assume Collaborative Divorce is off the table. Maybe you’ve heard it only works for couples who “get along” or “want the same things.” But the truth is, Collaborative Divorce is designed to help people exactly like you: spouses who are in conflict, but who want a better, healthier way to separate.

Let’s talk about how this works.

A Structured Process with Built-In Support

In Collaborative Divorce, each of you has your own specially trained lawyer who is committed to staying out of court. These attorneys aren’t opposing each other—they’re working as teammates to help you reach an agreement that meets your most important goals. You also get support from other neutral professionals, like a facilitator (a licensed mental health professional) and a financial professional.

The facilitator isn’t there to give therapy, but rather to help you communicate more clearly, manage emotions, and keep meetings productive. They are trained in conflict resolution and work with both of you together to help shift the conversation from fighting to problem-solving.

This team-based approach gives structure to your conversations. Instead of shouting matches or silent standoffs, you’ll have guided discussions where everyone works together to find solutions.

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Is Your Florida Law Firm a Marital Asset in Divorce? What Every Law Firm Owner Needs to Know

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As a law firm owner, you’ve built your practice with years of hard work, client relationships, and professional reputation. But when divorce enters the picture, you may be facing questions that strike at the core of everything you’ve created:

  • Is my law firm a marital asset?
  • Could my spouse be entitled to part of its value?
  • Will my partners be dragged into the process?
  • How can I protect my firm and my family?

If you’re navigating divorce in Florida, you need to understand not just the law, but also how to protect your practice and your peace of mind. For many attorneys and professionals, Collaborative Divorce is the answer.

Is a Law Firm a Marital Asset?

In Florida, the answer is often yes—at least in part.

If your law firm was started or grew during the marriage, it likely is considered a marital asset, even if your spouse is not a lawyer, had no direct involvement, and is not listed as an owner. The key factors to consider include:

  • When the firm was founded
  • How much the firm increased in value during the marriage

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