Why Collaboration?
In happier times, no one predicts that the perfect union of their own marriage and their ideal family will ever unravel. Unfortunately, separation and divorce are more likely than any couple can admit. For generations, the court system and contested litigation have been the mechanisms to “undo” a divided home:
until now.
Beginning in the Midwest in the early 1990s and entering the Central New York community in 2003, the out-of-court process of Collaborative Practice has become widespread and successful for spouses intending to end their marriages. Based on the reality that judicial proceedings are ill-equipped to provide truly fair, holistic, prompt, and private outcomes for couples, Collaborative Law principles require spouses and their collaboratively-trained attorneys to commit in writing to settling the issues of the marriage outside of court. By meeting face-to-face with the assistance of skilled, specialized allied professionals, Collaborative Divorce is accomplished with respect, cooperation, and dignity. And collaboration isn’t limited to just divorce: relocation cases, pre-nuptial negotiations, and post-settlement parenting matters are all resolvable with a hard-working collaborative team, too.
Attorney Dan Cantone is a Collaborative Lawyer persistent in helping his clients find and implement the most constructive and long-lasting choices for their families. Access this informative E-Brochure as well as our professional network’s recent commercial aired on media throughout CNY to learn more about collaboration.
Simply a “Better Way” to Separate or Divorce
Whether a marriage unravels early in the relationship–or perhaps after the children are grown and living their own lives–Collaborative Practice enables wives and husbands to preserve a semblance of peace and honor as they focus on their respective needs and interests.
Finances are disclosed freely and fully; the meeting environment is safe and respectful; no participant dwells needlessly on the past; and the spouses, lawyers and allied team members alike care about the impact of decisions made for the entire family. Trained “facilitators”, “coaches” and “child specialists” from the mental health professions and neutral financial, accounting, and income tax experts are called upon whenever appropriate to assist in parenting, communication, and economic issues. All-in-all, the emotional damage and enormous expenses associated with traditional matrimonial law in the courts are controlled as the parties bring finality to the establishment of separate households at their own pace and under their own terms. The trained team is so confident in the collaborative method that the professionals are prohibited from representing the couple in the unlikely event a settlement does not occur and adversarial litigation is initiated.
Divorce certainly ends a marriage. Yet the challenges of maintaining equivalent standards of living and the rigors of raising well adjusted children endure. Collaborative Law is proven to be the basis for the best possible dissolution.
In Their Words
“Where was Collaborative Law during my first divorce? Wow, what a HUGE difference. I didn’t really get everything I wanted, but compromising here and there is way better than the torture of doing this in court.”
S.M., Seneca Falls