Collaborative Family Law
At Romeo Pitaro Litigation and Family Law Lawyers, we offer an alternative option for clients who are interested in separation and/or divorce called collaborative family law. This method of resolving disputes is based on the understanding that both parties involved have an honest and mutual respect for each other. The spouses are expected to work together along with their legal teams in order to find solutions for the issues that have impacted their marriage.
When both parties choose to pursue collaborative family law, they must sign an agreement stating that they are choosing this method of dispute resolution for their case. In this agreement, both parties must confirm that they will not go to court or threaten to do so. This is to ensure that they can have an open discussion regarding the issues that need to be addressed.
After both parties have decided to sign the agreement, a four-way meeting will then be scheduled. There have been cases where issues were resolved within the first discussion, however on average, it takes approximately 3 to 5 meetings for both parties to agree on a final decision and have it documented.
In the four-way meeting, parties will discuss the arrangements regarding topics of custody of their children, spousal and child support, and the division of property.
With collaborative family law, all of the meetings are client driven because both parties are dictating when and where these meetings will take place as well as what problems will be brought to attention. At those times, we encourage our clients to discuss their feelings to reach a mutual decision.
Our lawyers will provide our clients with support and offer legal advice when they are discussing their issues with their partners. We do this to help make the process productive and to ensure that our clients approach their desired settlement, one that supports them and their child(ren)'s best interests. We want both parties to work together rather than against one another.
Collaborative family law does not work for all cases. If a couple's marriage is dissolving due to adultery or abuse, it would be hard for both parties involved to have a civil discussion to resolve issues. If clients are unable to be civil during this process then we would suggest a different route.
At Romeo Pitaro Litigation and Family Law Lawyers, we would recommend our clients to consider collaborative family law if they are:
- trying to be civil when addressing the issues related to their case
- trying to protect both the interests and rights for their children and themselves
- wanting to maintain a civil relationship between them and their ex-partner in hopes of salvaging a friendship
- trying to avoid letting a third party make the decisions regarding theirs and their children’s futures
- wanting to cut down the time and costs
It is important to note that choosing collaborative family law is a client’s choice and that both parties involved in the case must come to a mutual agreement in order to pursue it. Spouses are not allowed to force the other party to choose to do collaborative family law.
The goal of collaborative family law is to avoid a bitter court trial and to allow the final decision to made by the two individuals who are involved. The two parties involved are most likely to work towards getting the best possible results because it pertains to them and their children.
At Romeo Pitaro Litigation and Family Law Lawyers, the interests of our clients are paramount. We are dedicated to obtaining the best possible results as quickly as possible, either by settlement or a trial. From the moment you first contact a member of our team, our goal is to provide you with compassionate, high quality legal service.
Contact our office at 1 (877) 889-8889 to speak with one of our lawyers to book a free consultation regarding collaborative family law.
