Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

Who Gets The House In a Divorce?

Collaborative Divorce: Interest Based Negotiation vs. Position Based Negotiation Interests are different from positions.  A position generally has only one possible answer – who will get the house?  Me or my spouse. An interest has a number of possible answers – I want to receive the house in our divorce because: it’s close to our…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

10 Screening Questions: Is The Collaborative Process Right For My Divorce?

The Collaborative Divorce Process is a structured and streamlined approach that offers families an alternative to the traditional divorce litigation route.  You can resolve your divorce outside of court through a peaceful and private process. However, the Collaborative Process is not a good fit for every divorce. Here are 10 Screening Questions that will help…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

How Do I Obtain A Peaceful Divorce?

The way we start matters.  More and more I hear this question from a husband or a wife, or both spouses, during a divorce consultation: How do I (we) obtain a peaceful divorce? This simple question, or some variation of it, opens the door to a private, peaceful and respectful divorce process.  This civil and…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Should I Hire a Bulldog Divorce Attorney?

Recently, I have heard several of my friends use the term “bulldog” attorney. There is nothing new about this term.  We have all heard it used to describe a certain type of lawyer for many years. The interesting thing about it to me is that in some cases I hear it used as a compliment,…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Is Court The Best Place For My Divorce?

No, the courthouse is not the best venue to resolve your divorce. Courts and judges are needed to handle criminal cases, and many other legal conflicts.  However, in my opinion, court is not the best venue to resolve your divorce peacefully and privately. Surgeons Are Like Litigation Attorneys Here is a good analogy: In the…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

Collaborative Divorce Protects Your Privacy

Collaborative divorce is a peaceful, private and respectful process that helps families to reach a fair resolution.  The entire team agrees not to fight in Court. Collaborative divorce is drastically different than a litigated divorce, where  you file a lawsuit against your spouse, and then wait for lawyers and judges to determine the outcome of…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

How Do I Make A Plan For Divorce?

For many of us, making a plan is the first step to overcoming an obstacle. Divorce is no different. MAKING A PLAN FOR DIVORCE First, you can sit down and consider what your objective goals are for your divorce. Write out an outline that includes the following: Do I really want to divorce my spouse,…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

How Do I Tell My Spouse That I Want A Divorce?

Broaching the topic of divorce with your husband or wife is no easy task. Informing your husband or wife that you have done everything you can to repair the relationship, and that you have made the difficult decision to end the marriage is as hard as it gets. As a friend of mine often says,…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

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…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

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…