Newton Collaborative Divorce Lawyer
At Turco Legal, our Newton collaborative divorce lawyer is an experienced, solutions-focused advocate for clients. Through the collaborative law process, you and your spouse can resolve all of your family law issues in a structured, non-adversarial setting. If you have questions about the collaborative divorce process, we are here to help. Call us at (978) 225-9030 or contact us directly online for a strictly confidential consultation with a collaborative divorce attorney in Newton.
What is a Collaborative Divorce in Massachusetts?
Collaborative law is a unique process through which divorcing couples can work together in an effort to resolve all outstanding family law issues and reach a settlement in a low-conflict environment. Collaborative divorce is not the same thing as divorce mediation. It is a more highly structured process that is governed by some specialized rules and regulations. Here are five key things to know about the collaborative divorce process in Massachusetts:
- The Parties Sign a Collaborative Divorce Agreement: To enter the collaborative divorce process in Massachusetts, both spouses must sign a collaborative law participation agreement. The agreement helps to provide the structure for the process.
- The Goal is the Facilitation of a Cooperative Settlement: Collaborative divorce exists to help parties resolve their divorce through cooperative problem-solving. A collaborative law attorney plays a different role than a lawyer in traditional divorce litigation. It is the goal of all parties within the collaborative law process to work towards a settlement agreement.
- Experts May Be Brought In—But are Jointly Retained: You may need to bring in an expert witness in your divorce case. For example, parties involved in a high net worth divorce dispute could require a forensic accountant. One key difference between collaborative divorce and divorce litigation is that all expert witnesses are jointly retained. They are meant to be independent.
- Collaborative Divorce Negotiations are Confidential: Consistent with the participation agreement, collaborative divorce negotiations are designed to be confidential. What you say within the collaborative law process will not become part of the public record. Everything said within the collaborative law process itself is protected.
- You Can Still Litigate—But All Attorneys Must Withdraw Representation: Collaborative divorce is voluntary and non-binding. While it can be highly effective, it does not work for everybody. Using collaborative divorce does not foreclose your other options. You can withdraw from the collaborative divorce process at any point in time. However, your collaborative law attorney cannot represent you in litigation. The collaborative divorce lawyers retained by each spouse must also withdraw representation if the process ends without a settlement.
Advantages of a Collaborative Divorce
Collaborative divorce offers a number of different potential benefits. It can be especially useful for divorcing couples that want to work together to find a settlement agreement, but who could benefit from some additional structure that is not offered by mediation. Some of the most notable advantages of the collaborative divorce process in Massachusetts include:
- Non-Adversarial: Collaborative divorce offers a low conflict atmosphere that is designed to help parties to a divorce find an amicable solution. As a collaborative divorce lawyer cannot represent parties in litigation, there is additional focus on settlement.
- Cost Effective: Collaborative divorce can save time and money. It is far cheaper than litigation if a settlement can be reached. Further, since parties can share the cost of expert witnesses, there are limited expenses in more complex cases.
- Confidential: The collaborative divorce process offers the maximum available confidentiality protection. You can keep virtually all of the specific details of your divorce or divorce settlement out of the public eye.
How Our Newton Collaborative Divorce Attorney Can Help
Collaborative divorce is a specialized area of family law. You can benefit from the services of a collaboratively-trained divorce lawyer. At Turco Legal, our attorney Andrea Wells, Esq is a member of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council and an active member of the small collaborative divorce law community. When you call our Newton office, you be connected with a Massachusetts collaborative divorce attorney who can;
- Answer your questions about collaborative divorce law;
- Help you prepare for collaborative divorce process; and
- Represent you in collaborative divorce proceedings.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation With a Newton Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Today
At Turco Legal, our Newton collaborative divorce attorney is standing by, ready to help you find the best path forward. Do you want to know more about collaborative divorce? We can help. Contact us at (978) 225-9030 to arrange your completely confidential initial case evaluation. We provide collaborative divorce services in Newtown and throughout Middlesex County.