| A new paradigm is needed for the way family law is | | | | handle future issues." |
| practiced in Michigan, and a new method called | | | | Working with a team of caring specialists that includes |
| Collaborative Divorce is leading the way. | | | | two lawyers, two coaches, a financial consultant, and a |
| Divorce is a life-changing event. A select group of | | | | child specialist (if necessary), you and your spouse |
| attorneys can now offer a better way to end a | | | | focus on building a consensus that addresses the |
| marriage through specialized advanced training in | | | | needs of everyone who will be directly affected by |
| Collaborative Divorce. This groundbreaking method | | | | the divorce.Every divorce involves a complex |
| revolutionizes the way couples divorce. It addresses | | | | intertwining of emotional, financial and legal issues that |
| your legal, financial, and emotional needs and achieves | | | | no single professional has the range of skills to |
| the best family arrangement possible. Families at war | | | | address comprehensively. When you have the right |
| produce only losers and no winners. This exciting new | | | | team member available to help solve the problem, it |
| process empowers you - not lawyers or a judge - to | | | | usually gets solved more quickly and economically and |
| shape the outcome of your divorce. | | | | at a higher level of sophistication. You're less likely to |
| The key benefits of Collaborative Divorce are that it is | | | | return again and again to court to rehash problems |
| non-adversarial; solutions can be tailor-made and | | | | that weren't really resolved in the first place. That's |
| flexible; clients have control of the pace; experts | | | | why -- paradoxically -- a team generally costs a |
| (accountants, financial advisers, therapists or | | | | couple less, not more. "Through divorce coaching, I |
| counselors) can be brought in and work with the | | | | have seen dramatic improvement in the way couples |
| couples; and privacy is preserved. | | | | communicate - even in the most contentious cases" |
| "I believe that Collaborative Divorce is the most exciting | | | | states Dr. Nancy Fishman, a Birmingham Mental Health |
| development in family law in many, many years. Clients | | | | Specialist. "For example, if one of you is frightened or |
| love it; they regard the process as direct, clear and | | | | angry, instead of going to the divorce lawyer, you'll |
| amicable while avoiding the expenses and latent | | | | spend a few sessions in coaching and then come |
| aggression of the court process." Says Lori D. Becker, | | | | back to the legal negotiating table much better |
| Bloomfield Hills Divorce Attorney and Mediator. | | | | equipped to think clearly and negotiate for long-term |
| Each spouse retains their own specially trained | | | | lasting resolution. You spend only what is needed for |
| collaborative lawyer, if they wish to achieve the many | | | | the right kind of constructive help to solve the problem. |
| benefits of collaborative divorce. Traditional lawyers, no | | | | It can be instrumental in keeping the legal fees from |
| matter how friendly or cooperative, lack the special | | | | escalating." |
| skills and training those collaborative lawyers can | | | | People need to be educated about conflict - |
| provide. | | | | specifically, avoiding it when appropriate, using the |
| Becker is one of the few Michigan divorce attorneys | | | | energy in a more constructive way, and saving the |
| trained in Collaborative Divorce, in which both spouses' | | | | courtroom only for truly immovable, conflicted cases. |
| divorce attorneys negotiate a settlement outside of | | | | Collaborative Divorce specialists create long-term |
| court - with a written agreement not to litigate. | | | | financial and parenting plans that work by enabling their |
| "It's a healthier way to help families," says Becker. " | | | | clients to understand and address their children's needs |
| Collaborative Divorce is a holistic approach to family | | | | while conserving emotional and financial resources, and |
| law. Attorneys trained in this method are highly skilled | | | | by helping clients play an active role in designing their |
| not only in family law, but in effective communication, | | | | lives after divorce. Cutting corners in how you meet |
| cooperative negotiation, and creative problem-solving. | | | | the challenges of divorce may be the most expensive |
| With a Collaborative Divorce, you get a plan on how to | | | | thing you can do. |