Collaborative Divorce Process
The law firm of Phyllis G. Bossin Co., L.P.A. in Cincinnati, Ohio represents clients in the collaborative law process. Our office represents individuals in Hamilton and surrounding counties.
Collaborative family law is an alternative to divorce litigation. It is generally used in the context of a dissolution of marriage but in some cases, the collaborative process can commence even after a divorce has been filed, provided that the divorce proceedings are stayed. Collaborative law takes an entirely different approach to settlement than does the traditional negotiation method. Although both parties must have trained attorneys in the collaborative model, the attorneys and the parties are not engaged in an adversarial process.
The core principle of collaborative family law is a commitment to resolving all issues outside of the court model and without reference to it. The parties and their attorneys sign an agreement committing to the collaborative approach and agreeing not to file for divorce. The parties and counsel work together to develop creative options to resolve issues, including considering options that might not be available under the court model. Freed from the constraints of the court model, the parties control the process and thus are more likely to feel satisfied with the outcome. The goal of collaborative law is cooperation without the threat of going to court.
Because the collaborative model is based upon negotiation rather than litigation, once the parties and counsel sign a collaborative agreement, if an agreement cannot be reached, both attorneys must withdraw from the case and the parties can proceed to litigation with new counsel.
Not every case is appropriate for the collaborative model. Each case must be evaluated on its own individual circumstances. The firm is experienced in undertaking this evaluation and has completed many successful collaborative law cases. Phyllis G. Bossin is a member of the Collaborative Family Lawyers of Cincinnati, and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and has been practicing collaborative law for five years.
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