Somewhere between litigation and mediation, collaborative law is an alternative approach to divorce that is relatively new to Pennsylvania. As an ADR method (Alternative Dispute Resolution), it gives couples the opportunity to settle their differences in a noncombative environment, at the same table with his or her lawyer present.
Allegheny County Divorce Mediation Lawyer
At my law office I guide individuals in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and Washington County through each step of the collaborative law process. As a member of the Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania (CLASP), I am one of a group of attorneys in the region with the ability to practice this unique and sensible alternative to divorce litigation.
For a free phone consultation regarding collaborative law and other ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) methods, contact me online today.
The Collaborative Law Process
The collaborative law process was developed in the 1980s and has become an increasingly popular method for divorcing couples. The ultimate goal is to have a peaceful and dignified divorce that does not have to involve expensive and timely litigation. Initially, each party obtains their own divorce attorney who has specific collaborative law training and is a member of the Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Parties agree under written contract to participate in the collaborative law process. The process then continues in an amicable manner, where both parties and their attorneys meet to peacefully negotiate a resolution on all divorce issues. If an agreement cannot be reached, then both attorneys must forever withdraw as legal counsel in the divorce.
A Noncombative, Efficient, and Effective Alternative to Litigation
As a Pittsburgh collaborative law attorney with an ongoing interest in new and innovative ways to help families resolve their family law issues out of court, I believe the divorce collaborative process is a viable option available for Pittsburgh individuals seeking an amicable divorce.
- It gives you control of the divorce process. Unlike litigation, where decisions are handed down by a judge, collaborative law gives both parties the opportunity to come to mutually satisfying agreements on their own accord, with the advice of their collaborative lawyers.
- It gives you access to your own legal counsel. In every collaborative law session, your own attorney is present to advise you step by step, in a noncombative environment.
- It helps you come to creative solutions. People in a divorce can be forced to buy out their spouse's share of a home, or cash out a 401(k) to split their assets equitably. Not so in collaborative law. You will have the ability to develop alternative solutions to these common problems.
I can represent you in your collaborative law proceedings, but your spouse will need his or her own legal counsel trained in the collaborative law process. For a complete listing of collaborative professionals in Southwestern Pennsylvania, please visit www.clasplaw.org.
Contact Me, an Experienced Pittsburgh Collaborative Divorce Lawyer
To learn more about the collaborative law process and decide if it is right for you, contact me online or call 412-283-1000 for a free telephone consultation. For more general information about collaborative law nationwide, visit www.collaborativepractice.com.
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