Chad Layton, Esq. Collaborative Divorce Attorney

E-Book: How To Get Divorced Without Fighting In Court.

I am often asked, “What is a mindful divorce? How did you come up with that name for your law practice?” After handling highly contested divorce cases and divorce trials in Palm Beach County for over 10 years, I was introduced to the collaborative divorce process. This was an eye opener for me.  Instead of…

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

7 Questions To See If Collaborative Divorce Is A Good Fit For You

Divorce is not fun and it’s not easy.  This is true no matter which process you decide is the best fit for your divorce. However, some divorces are much better than others. Almost all of us know someone that has been through an ugly divorce.  In my experience, just about every one of those “ugly…

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…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

No, We Are Not Fighting Over The Kids

In some divorces, parents become engaged in a custody battle. Many years ago, I learned that custody battles are a losing proposition, especially for the children. The system is designed to fail. The system, if you choose to fight in court, provides specific factors that each parent and their attorney will use to build a…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Collaborative Divorce Won’t Work, My Spouse Is Crazy!

A common concern that I hear in collaborative divorce consultations is: “Collaborative divorce sounds great, but it won’t work for me.  My husband/wife is [crazy, irrational, narcissistic, hot head].  That’s why we are getting a divorce.” In my experience, collaborative divorce is in fact a good process for difficult spouses and difficult divorces. The reason…

Chad Layton Collaborative Divorce Attorney

3 Questions To Ask Before Filing For Divorce

Deciding to end your marriage is a big step, period. Generally, this decision comes after you have done everything that you can think of to save the marriage, and it has been unsuccessful. When you know that it is time to go forward with a divorce, you may want to consider the following questions. Do…

Chad Layton collaborative divorce attorney west palm beach

2023 Resolution – Help Families Stop Fighting In Court

Happy New Year!  This year, we are working to help families stop fighting in court.  Many clients that I meet with for the first time haven’t heard of the collaborative divorce process. They have been told that they must choose between trying to figure out the legal process of divorce on their own or filing…