Collaborative Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
What is Collaborative Law?
Collaborative law is a legal process that takes place in a group setting with the parties, their respective attorneys, and a Financial Neutral, who serves both parties. The group setting allows the parties to freely discuss each party’s goals and interests prior to the filing of any pleading and/or the court’s intervention.
Unlike mediation, each party is represented by an attorney and can consult a number of other professionals to assist with issues regarding finances, custody, co-parenting, and/or psychological evaluations. The meetings are scheduled by the parties based on the participants availability and are held at the attorney’s offices.
Prior to the first Collaborative meeting, the parties sign an agreement to proceed collaboratively in the group setting, instead of in a confidential setting, and that the discussions during the meetings cannot be used in a subsequent court proceeding. If the parties are unable to reach a resolution through the collaborative process, and seek intervention through the court, the parties need to retain new counsel to maintain neutrality.
Why choose ADR?
Alternative Dispute Resolution options are considerably more affordable because you use YOUR finances how YOU want to. The difference between mediation and collaborative law is that this process allows the parties to have legal representation while incorporating others, like a Coach, Financial Neutral, and/or Counselor, to reach a resolution regarding the legal issues outside of litigation without going to court.
At Adamczyk Law Offices, our attorneys have gone through extensive hours of training to learn and practice the collaborative law process. Battling in court isn't your only option-We offer mediation and collaborative law to help keep YOUR case in YOUR control.
