Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Is Every Divorce a “Nasty Divorce”?

Of course not. There are times when a marriage no longer works.  This doesn’t mean that you have lost all respect and love for your spouse. This doesn’t mean that you want to start a legal battle against your spouse. It simply means that your marriage has come to an end. The collaborative divorce process…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

How Do I Tell My Husband Or Wife That I Want A Collaborative Divorce?

Talking to your husband or wife about divorce is not an easy conversation.  However, if you need to have this conversation, it is best to be prepared. Here is a short list of tips that may help in the discussion with your spouse about the benefits of Collaborative Divorce: Deadlines – Don’t create any unrealistic…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney

Hourly Billing Woes

Over the weekend, I read a good article in the Palm Beach Post about hourly legal fees charged to the School Board. These bills were of course ultimately paid by us, the taxpayers in Palm Beach County. The law firm billed at the rate of $660 per hour. The columnist made light of the obvious…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

3 Signs That Collaborative Divorce Is Not Right For You

For the large majority of families, the benefits of the collaborative divorce process (privacy, respect, non-adversarial nature) far outweigh the cons. However, in some instances, collaborative divorce is not the best fit to address the issues in your divorce. Collaborative divorce is not the best solution for you IF: REVENGE – If you or your…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Who Is On My Collaborative Divorce Team?

Collaborative divorce is a process that helps families resolve their divorce without fighting in court. In my opinion, this is the best process available to resolve the difficult issues in divorce.  Collaborative divorce keeps you out of court and it helps you create a custom plan to resolve your divorce. So, who is on the…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

Divorce Planning > Divorce Fighting

How we help couples and families through the process of divorce has come a long way during the 15 years that I have been practicing divorce law in Palm Beach County. Traditional Divorce Litigation (Fighting): Your attorney should: Pay attention to the “consequential facts” in your case. These are the facts that the law and…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

How To Achieve A Healthy Divorce

In divorce, as with many things in life, the process matters. When you are first considering divorce and what life might look like after divorce, lots of questions come to mind. How do we separate our finances? How do we divide our assets and debts? Will my spouse or I need financial support? How do…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

Does Collaborative Divorce Really Work? (Yes, 92% of the Time)

As many of you know, I focused my law practice in traditional divorce litigation in Palm Beach County for more than 13 years. Based upon my experience, a court battle is not your best option in divorce. Instead, I recommend the Collaborative Divorce process. The benefits of the Collaborative Divorce process versus traditional litigation are…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

What Drives the Cost of Divorce Most in Palm Beach County? (It’s Not the Lawyers)

This is an instance where the simplest answer is the correct one.  Whether or not you go to court and fight.  That is the factor that plays the biggest role in the cost of divorce in Palm Beach County. Going to court and fighting in your divorce will not only cost you financially (likely three…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Is Divorce Really, “A Game Played By Lawyers?”

In the classic film, The Awful Truth, movie star Cary Grant delivered a great one liner, “Divorce is a game played by lawyers.”[i] There is no doubt that this adage holds true too often. However, divorce doesn’t have to be a lawsuit that is “played” by trained professionals, where you are updated on occasion with…