Considering Your Options
At the Law Office of Amie Rodnick, we have been helping Austin and Central Texas divorce clients for many years. In that time, we have learned about the factors clients consider when deciding whether collaborative law is right for them.
Below, we describe some of the general considerations.
Collaborative Law Benefits People With and Without Children
Couples with children going through divorce often find collaborative law to be the best option. A key notion in divorce law is that the needs of children must be put ahead of the needs of adults. But a traditional litigation process can often undermine a child's best interests.
Child support and regular visitation are not always enough to maintain healthy relationships between parents and children. If a child has witnessed a contentious divorce process involving arguing parents and aggressive lawyers, it can cause long-term emotional damage.
Even when there are no children involved, couples who want to divorce amicably will often find the support of a collaborative team helpful as they try to avoid conflict. Ex-spouses often come into contact through shared acquaintances as well as weddings and other family events. An amicable process helps make these situations more comfortable in the long term.
Spouses Must Work Together in Good Faith
Even if one spouse wants to pursue the collaborative process, the other spouse may not. Collaborative law requires trust, good faith, and investment in the process from both sides.
If your spouse has abused or threatened you, collaborative law is probably not the right approach. The process requires a commitment to civilized behavior and the best interests of any children you may have, and an abusive spouse is clearly not demonstrating that kind of commitment.
Contact us to discuss whether collaborative law is the right approach for you or whether you would be better off conducting your divorce through mediation or traditional litigation.
Law Office of Amie Rodnick
507 W 7th St
Austin, TX 78701
Telephone: 512-477-2226
Fax: 512-477-2126
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