Why You Want to Use the Collaborative Law Process

Pasadena | Glendale | Burbank | Los Angeles CA

Dependency Matters Handled in the Counties of:
San Bernardino I Ventura I Riverside I Los Angeles CA

Divorce & Family Law FAQs

Do I need an attorney for my divorce?
Whether or not you need an attorney is a decision you must...Learn More

How do I begin the divorce proceedings?
After you have hired an attorney, you will need to fill out...Learn More

What is child custody and visitation?
In a divorce or paternity action, the court has juridiction...Learn More

Do I need an attorney to file for protection?
No, most courts have a special office and personnel to...Learn More

Collaborative law focuses on having spouses and their attorneys work together to resolve conflict in their family law cases. But, what are the benefits of utilizing the collaborative law process in your divorce or to resolve your family law conflict?

The collaborative process is a cooperative process where individuals work out their differences and find solutions everyone can live with. The collaborative process has many benefits, including the following key benefits over traditional divorce or family law litigation:

You are a key component in the decision making process: Unlike traditional divorce and custody litigation where a stranger (judge) decides the outcome of your divorce or family law issue, in the collaborative law process you are an integral part of the decision-making process. Let’s face it, no matter how much time and energy a judge spends trying to understand your family dynamics and what is in everyone’s best interest, the judge will never be in a position to fully understand and assess your situation and the best interest of your children the way that you can. Frankly, the family law courts simply do not have enough time in these economic times to dedicate to each case they are assigned the way that you and your family deserve. Collaborative divorce offers creative solutions and allows you to customize a workable solution to your particular circumstances.

Collaborative divorce is less stressful on everyone: The collaborative law process, especially for issues surrounding the distribution of property and child custody, is far less stressful on you and the children than traditional litigation. Moreover, the children see their parents working together for them, making the divorce as amicable as possible, and in most instances, infinitely more amicable than traditional court litigation, which is an adversarial process by nature. In addition, in the future you will likely have many interactions with your former spouse, e.g., graduations, birthdays, holidays and special events in your child’s life. When the parents learn to make decisions together in the collaborative law process, chances are, they will get along much better years to come. A less stressful and amicable relationship will go a long way.

Collaborative divorce is often much faster than traditional divorce litigation: Because collaboration has the parties working together to find a common solution, rather than fighting as adversaries, issues are generally resolved much quicker, which will allow you and your family to get on with your lives.

Collaborative law is generally much less expensive than traditional litigation: While collaborative law does have its costs, the legal expenses are nowhere near the costs of a fully litigated case. One court appearance may cost the parties in excess of $4,000 just for two attorneys to show up at one hearing. When a case is litigated, there are often numerous court appearances followed by a lengthy trial, with witnesses and experts, as well as post-judgment court appearances to modify the (not so final) judgment. There are often court appearances addressing custody and support modifications until the youngest child turns 18. When there are children, there may be a custody evaluation that may cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. In the long run, collaborative divorce is far less expensive than a litigated divorce, but without the high amounts of stress on you and your children.

Contact a Trained Pasadena Collaborative Law Attorney

For questions about the collaborative law process or for assistance in determining if the collaborative law process in a divorce is right for you and your situation, please schedule a consultation with an experienced attorney at the Law Offices of Howell & Howell by calling us at (626) 568-1900, or if you prefer, fill out our intake form and we will contact you.

Helping clients in transition...Call today.

Located in Pasadena, California, the Law Offices of Howell & Howell represents men and women in family law and divorce matters throughout the San Fernando Valley - San Gabriel Valley - Inland Empire area, including clients throughout the communities in and around Pasadena, La Canada, San Marino, Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Glendora, Covina, West Covina, El Monte, San Bernardino and Riverside, CA.