Collaborative Law: A Different Way To Divorce

For many people involved in a divorce, there is a belief that in order to protect your interests and your rights, you have to be aggressive, combative and contentious. Litigation is adversarial to allow the "truth" to be discovered and justice to prevail. But with family law issues, the real point of most cases is to resolve disputes, reduce conflict and, where children are involved, create a co-parenting relationship that is in the children's best interests.

A Difficult Starting Point

Collaborative law is different. Each party has an attorney trained in collaboration. The parties, their attorneys and a mental health facilitator will work as a team to create the best marital settlement agreement and time-sharing and parenting plans for the parties. Together.

Preserving Relationships Is Essential

If you have children, you must figure out a way to co-parent. This is a much more pleasant process in a collaborative setting than trying to co-parent after a hotly contested trial. You can divorce your spouse, but your children cannot — your former spouse will always be their parent. And it makes for a more peaceful future for all concerned if the transition to co-parenting is not destructive.

Since Florida, like most states, strongly favors joint custody between parents, you need to come to an understanding that while you do not have to love them, or even remain friends, you will have to develop a civil relationship that spares your children toxic levels of interaction every time you have to encounter the other parent.

Collaborative Law Can Help With This Process

If you spend years litigating a contentious divorce and custody arrangement, it may be very difficult to switch gears and begin co-parenting your children civilly. Mary McDaniel trained as a collaborative divorce lawyer in recognition of this fact. With collaborative family law, you avoid the courtroom entirely and even the attorneys have a stake in the successful resolution of your divorce.

We always work to protect children and obtain the best possible future for them, and we strive to create an environment where parents who no longer love each other or live together can work together to raise their children successfully.

We Are Here To Help

This is what we do at MGM Law, P.A. We recognize the pain, bewilderment and rage you may feel. Our job as your collaborative family law firm is to work with you, providing you with the support and tools you need to succeed and prosper after your divorce.

A collaboratively developed parenting plan is much more likely to be successful because it is based on your needs and the needs of your family, and not imposed by a busy judge who lacks your intimate knowledge of your family.

Contact Our Firm

Our team is here for you. We want to help you obtain the best possible outcome, and we can explain how a collaborative approach can help. Our whole team will help you and you can rely on us. Call our Pensacola office for a free initial consultation at 850-450-1755 or use our convenient online form.