Collaborative Law

A Collaborative Approach to Divorce

If you are involved in a family dispute such as a contested divorce, you may be worried about how a standard trial procedure will affect your family and children while at the same time wanting to stand your ground on certain issues.

One alternative for people going through the divorce process is a unique procedure called collaborative law. I am Colleen A. Dunbar, a Dallas family law attorney experienced at representing clients in collaborative law divorces. Contact me to schedule a free half-hour consultation to discuss this potentially positive option.

Avoiding Contentious Courtroom Battles

The primary motivation behind collaborative law is to keep your divorce case out of the courthouse. The idea is that the family unit can be dissolved while keeping important relationships, especially relationships with children, intact.

In a collaborative law proceeding, each client is represented by an attorney, but the attorneys agree that if the divorce issues cannot be resolved through negotiation, they will withdraw from the case.

This keeps the lawyers focused on getting their clients to talk to each other and work through the issues. At the same time, there is an experienced advocate to look out for your individual legal rights and personal interests. This is important, because even when you are approaching things in a collaborative way, there are times when the parties' interests are at odds.

Depending on the details of your marriage and family, it may be best to include experts such as a child psychologist or an economist in the process. I am experienced at working with experts to craft solutions.

Divorce is always an emotionally difficult situation, but in many cases, collaborative law can significantly reduce the stress and anger involved, especially for children. Contact me to learn more about the benefits of collaborative law.