A Better Way Forward
Bitterness. Anger. Resentment. These words, and others like them, can be used to describe the feelings between two people whose marriage has reached its end. Unfortunately, the most common method of obtaining a divorce — courtroom litigation — typically exacerbates these feelings.
Located in Doylestown, the Law Office & Mediation Services of Elissa C. Goldberg often encourages Pennsylvania divorce clients to consider a more civil, productive method for handling marital dissolution. The method is called collaborative law, and it affords each party the opportunity to resolve his or her dispute out of court, through constructive negotiation and with the help of professionals. The end result, hopefully, is that the former spouses will be able to minimize emotional trauma for themselves and for their children and move forward in a healthy fashion.
What Are the Advantages of Collaborative Law?
Many of our clients in Bucks County and Montgomery County are unfamiliar with terms like "collaborative law" and "collaborative divorce." If you are among them, we encourage you to read the following brief comparison of collaborative law vs. divorce traditional litigation.
- Control of the process: In court, the judge has control over the proceedings, and control over how your assets are divided and with whom your children live. In a collaborative setting, you and your spouse have the right to decide all the issues that affect your family, including custody, property division and all other details.
- Focused on you: Litigation is not always about you. Divorce law itself may be applied in ways that do not fit your individual needs. In collaborative law, the entire process is geared specifically toward the uniqueness of your family.
- Communication: In divorce litigation, talking to your spouse may be outright discouraged, which only breeds more tension. Collaborative divorce is entirely the opposite: open, honest and constructive dialogue drives the process.
- Team: Litigation is a lonely ordeal. By contrast, collaborative divorce brings together an entire team of professionals who assist you through the entire process. The team usually includes financial experts, mental health professionals and child specialists, as necessary.
- Costs: In court, costs cannot be predicted. Information can come to light at any time, sparking more court filings and, therefore, more attorney's fees. The use of experts costs even more money. In the collaborative setting, costs are usually kept under control due to the structure of the process. The team model described above is more financially efficient.
These are just a few of the advantages of collaborative divorce. The process allows the parties to confront their differences and work through them, rather than use them as weapons. The end result is usually a longer-lasting, more satisfying outcome that anything a family court could provide.
Contact a Collaborative Divorce Attorney in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
To learn more about collaborative law vs. traditional litigation and what method best suits you, call the Law Office & Mediation Services of Elissa C. Goldberg today. We can be reached at 215-345-5259 or via email. Your initial consultation is free.