Video: 4 Principles of Collaborative Divorce

In the video below, attorney Lee Rosen discusses collaborative divorce, including four principles that make a family law matter collaborative:

Rosen points out that, pursuant to the collaborative participation agreement clients sign to begin the process, a collaborative divorce includes the following principles:

• Clients will negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement without having a judge decide issues;
• Attorneys will withdraw if either party attempts to have a decision decided by a judge;
• Clients will engage in open negotiations and information sharing; and
• Clients will create shared solutions that take into account the highest priorities of both clients.

I would add to Rosen’s principles that collaborative divorce (i) remains a private and confidential process where (ii) both clients agree to engage in respectful negotiations that (iii) preserve both clients’ dignity.

Rosen also notes that the collaborative divorce process is perfect for clients that plan to only hire attorneys if direct negotiations with their spouse hit a snag, because it allows all of the benefits of getting good legal advice and representation without the destructive pitfalls of engaging a trial lawyer or fighting it out in court (or threatening to fight it out).

If you have questions regarding how a Tampa Bay collaborative divorce process can help your family, schedule a consultation with The Law Firm of Adam B. Cordover, P.A., at (813) 443-0615 or fill out our contact form.

Adam B. Cordover is Vice President of the Collaborative Divorce Institute of Tampa Bay and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.  Adam served on the taskforce that drafted the Hillsborough County collaborative family practice administrative order signed by Chief Judge Manuel Menendez.