Every divorce or separation is unique. Collaborative Law helps clients from a variety of different backgrounds and situations to creatively solve problems and settle cases outside the court room. A primary objective for the Collaborative Law team is to assist clients to focus on their most important goals and reach a solution that is right for them and their families without the intervention of the court system.

The following are real life stories on how collaborative law clients were able to successfully develop parenting plans, divide financial assets and create a financial plan for the future.

John and Martha
John had been through a litigated divorce several years ago and was anxious to avoid the protracted, expensive and painful process that had been his experience€”and that of his four children-- in his first divorce. Read More...

Nicole and Chad
Chad and Nicole had decided to divorce after many years of deep unhappiness and a year of marriage counseling. It was a painful decision for both of them. They had been married for 17 years and had two children€”a son, 14, and a 10 year old daughter with a Non-Verbal Learning Disability. Nicole was particularly concerned about their daughter, who had difficulty with transitions and had just started middle school. Nicole was also concerned that, as a stay at home mom, she had not been able to save for retirement. They decided they did not want to expose their children to the stress and hostility of an adversarial divorce. Read More...

Ben and Drake
Ben, 51 and Drake 52, have been together for 15 years. Ben, a corporate lawyer, earns a good income, considerably more than Drake, who is a high school teacher. They decided to adopt a child and because Ben had the higher income, he became the adoptive parent of Max, who is now 8. The men decided that Drake would become a stay at home dad and take responsibility for raising Max as well as caring for the family home and Ben would be the sole financial support. This was working quite well until the couple decided their relationship was not working and they decided to split. Read More...

Julia and David
Julia and David were very angry with each other. They had been married for 35 years. Their three children were grown, and Julia and David were the grandparents of four children. David had moved into their beach home, and Julia had recently found out that there was a woman living with him. David had felt miserable for years in the marriage. But he hadn't wanted to hurt Julia. He also knew she would need considerable support as part of a divorce, as she had never worked outside of the home. But he also felt he was entitled to a few years of his own happiness at this point in his life, and didn't want to be tied to Julia financially for the rest of his life. Read More...