A Process With Clearly Defined Roles
At the heart of the collaborative law process is a team of people working together to resolve your family's disputes and concerns. Some members of this team are present in every case, while others are optional.
Below is some information about the role each participant plays:
- The parties: These may be a married couple going through divorce, unmarried or divorced parents with a dispute about child custody modification, or anyone else with a family law issue. Their role is to seek a good-faith resolution of their concerns, one that works for both of them. Each is represented by a lawyer, and they must agree before bringing in any other professionals.
- The attorneys: Each attorney represents one client. Both attorneys should be trained in collaborative family law and committed to the process. They must operate in an atmosphere of transparency. At the Law Office of Amie Rodnick, we are familiar with other collaborative family law attorneys in Austin and Central Texas. If necessary, we can refer your spouse to a lawyer who we know meets collaborative law's high standard of integrity.
- A financial professional: A CPA or financial planner can gather information about each party's finances and suggest the most mutually advantageous ways of making property division, child support, and spousal support arrangements.
- A mental health professional: A psychologist or social worker can help you create a parenting plan for your children and act as a coach to help everyone emotionally.
- The judge: Every divorce must be approved by a judge. However, in Texas, collaborative family law is explicitly recognized as a valid alternative to litigation, and the judge will normally respect the collaborative decision of the parties, unless it contradicts state law.
Family law disputes are rarely a simple trade-off. There are ways to make the outcome better for everyone involved ... and ways to make it worse. Having a collaborative family law team working on your case can benefit everyone. Contact us to discuss how we can work with you.
Law Office of Amie Rodnick
507 W 7th St
Austin, TX 78701
Telephone: 512-477-2226
Fax: 512-477-2126
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