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What Is A Fair Divorce Settlement?
This is a question that I am asked more and more often by a husband or wife during Collaborative divorce consultations. I see this as progress. In the Collaborative divorce setting, fair is exactly what we are seeking. We work hard to help both spouses understand the complete financial picture of their marriage. Next, we…
Are You Part Of The 3%?
Recently, a family law judge in Palm Beach County provided valuable insight to a group of local divorce attorneys and professionals. The judge reminded us that 97% of all divorce cases in Palm Beach County reach a settlement agreement without going to trial. 3% of divorce matters in Palm Beach County go to trial. These…
What Is The Role Of The Financial Professional In Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative divorce is a process that prioritizes respectful communications, freely exchanged information, direct participation of both spouses, and solutions to accomplish the goals set by you and your spouse. These are lofty ideals that are achieved every day by collaboratively trained attorneys, mental health professionals, and financial professionals. The financial professional on your Collaborative team…
Can I Get A Collaborative Divorce If We Don’t Agree On Everything?
Yes. The Collaborative Divorce process provides you with a team of experienced divorce professionals that work to provide you with solutions that are tailored to the unique circumstances and finances of your marriage. Your Collaborative Divorce team can include a financial professional, a mental health professional and two collaboratively trained divorce attorneys. The entire team…
How Does The New Florida Alimony Law Affect Collaborative Divorce?
On June 30, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Florida alimony reform bill into law. Here are a few take aways from the new alimony statute: Permanent or “Lifetime Alimony” is eliminated. Adultery by either spouse may now be considered in awarding alimony, and its resulting financial impact on the spouses. The legal standard of “need”…
What Are The Rules Of Collaborative Divorce?
The strength of collaborative divorce is that there is only one rule, and that is that the spouses will not resort to a court battle. Instead, each spouse chooses their own collaboratively trained divorce attorney. Each attorney will sign a disqualification clause that provides that they cannot represent either spouse in a contested court action.…
How Do I Avoid Losing Control Of My Divorce?
Don’t go to court to fight if you want to maintain any degree of control in your divorce. Lawyers and judges are the primary actors in a litigated (contested) divorce. You and your husband or wife are the primary actors in a collaborative (uncontested) divorce. The degree of control that you have in the decisions…
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…
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…
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…