Divorce Choices

limited legal services

mediation collaborative cooperative litigation

$ $$ $$$ $$$$$$$$

Divorce Choices

Limited Legal Services:

For clients who

represent themselves,

but utilize an attorney for

specific services, such as

reviewing legal

documents or

for legal advice.

limited legal

servicesmediation

collaborative

cooperative litigation

Mediation:

An affordable

alternative where a

mediator acts as a

neutral third party who

helps define and settle

legal and other difficult

issues

limited legal

servicesmediation

collaborative


Collaborative:

A structured process to

express and resolve

conflict in a non-

adversarial

environment; the

objective is settlement,

not trial.

limited legal

servicesmediation

collaborative


Cooperative:

A process with the

features of a

collaborative divorce

that retains the option

of going to court

if absolutely necessary

limited legal

servicesmediation

collaborative


Litigation:

An adversarial

process that turns

to the court

to solve

problems

limited legal

servicesmediation

collaborative


Comparing Divorce Alternatives


mediation collaborative practice


Settlement Oriented or Adversarial,

Depending on the Parties

Settlement Oriented; Affordable

Settlement Oriented; Affordable

Settlement Oriented if Clients and Attorneys Cooperate

Adversarial; Often Costly

to Go to Court

Settlement Oriented or Adversarial?





Parties Represent

Themselves

Neutral Third Party

(Mediator)

Each Spouse Has Own Attorney

Each Spouse Has Own Attorney

Each Spouse Has Own

Attorney in Court

Level of Attorney Involvement





Provides Legal Document Review and Preparation

Focuses on Problem Solving

Client-Focused Problem Solving

Legal-Oriented Problem Solving

Focus is on Grievances, Blame and

Winning

Process Emphasis





Helps You Retain Control

over Case

You Maintain Control & No

Court Appearance

You Maintain Control & Usually No

Court Appearance

Attorneys Keep Control

and Use Court When Needed

Court Appearance &

Gives the Judge Control

Who Gets to Decide?

What Will

This Cost?

How Can We

Keep The Costs

Down?

How Can We Keep the Cost Down?

“Divorce Done Differently” begins

with a client and one of our

attorneys making every reasonable

effort to establish an atmosphere of

mutual respect and cooperation

between all parties. In this

environment, we usually find we can

arrive at cooperative solutions and

preserve each spouse’s dignity,

resulting in lower conflict -- very

often at a reduced cost.

What Will This Cost?

Factors influencing what a divorce

case will cost include the level of

cooperation from both parties

and unforeseen issues that arise

during the divorce.

There are many

things a client can do

to reduce the pain of

divorce for you and

your family. Our

attorney-mediators

have many years of

experience helping

clients minimize the

emotional toll of

divorce.

What About the Emotional Costs?

To Minimize Emotional Costs, We Help People…

#1 Transition from Marriage

Partners to “Parenting Partners.”

#2 Gain the other parent’s trust by

keeping agreements and promises.

#3 Learn to keep money issues and

children issues separate.

#4 Understand that saying bad

things about the other parent hurts

children, who love both parents.

#5 Let small irritations about the

other parent go. Stick to the big

concerns and you’ll get more respect.

To Minimize Emotional Costs, We Help People…

#6 Learn to avoid putting children

in the middle of adult disputes.

#7 Be positive role models for

children. Focus on making the best

of things and so will your children.

#8 Learn to cooperate. A

cooperative environment between

parents make children feel safe.

#9 See that having relationships with

both parents is key; children suffer

when divorce disrupts a relationship.

#10 Believe that simple courtesy

often is the best answer. Legal battles

rarely help. Learn to get along.

Education

Divorce Choices