Collaborative Law
Is Collaborative Law Right for You?
Is a Collaborative Approach Right for You?
Divorce, like marriage, is a highly personal matter. There is no right or wrong way to get divorced, but there may be ways that are less right for you and your family. Collaborative divorce attorney Patricia L. DeRue has helped many couples find answers they can live with using the collaborative divorce process.
Traditional “adversarial” divorce can be a destructive process, aggravating existing problems in the relationship. Because it can focus on “winning,” litigious divorce proceedings can intensify feelings of anger and vindictiveness or helplessness and victimization. It can ignore or intensify power imbalances already existing in the relationship. And it can create long-lasting hostile feelings that make it difficult for couples who share children to successfully co-parent in the future.
Even if you and your spouse are on good terms and anticipate an easy divorce in court, the collaborative law approach may have something to offer you. It gives control of the process back to the couple, taking decision-making out of the hands of the court.
To determine if collaborative family law is right for you, ask yourself if these values are important to you:
- Working in an atmosphere of respect
- Taking responsibility for achieving desired outcomes
- Making your own decisions rather than letting a judge decide for you
- Emphasizing the needs of your children
- Listening respectfully and objectively to your spouse's needs
- Being listened to with respect and objectivity
- Working creatively to resolve issues
- Planning for the future with both practicality and hope
- Behaving responsibly, ethically and in a congenial manner toward your spouse
- Timely resolution of the issues
- Saving the money that would have been spent on a court battle to begin your new life
If you can affirm the principles of compassion, understanding and cooperation, it is likely that the collaborative law approach will be of interest to you. Contact collaborative divorce attorney Patricia L. DeRue, to discuss how the collaborative law approach can work for you.
For additional information on collaborative family law and whether it will work for your family, please review the information provided on this Web site.
New York family law attorney Patricia DeRue serves individuals and families in Syracuse and Onondaga County, Cayuga County, Madison County, Oswego County, and Cortland County including Onondaga, Lysander, Galen, Wampsville, Oswego, Cortland, Auburn, Pompey, Cicero, Salina, Minoa, Van Buren, Manlius, Clay, Sullivan, Montezuma, Constantia, Brookfield, Cazenovia, Elbridge and Skaneateles.
