Cincinnati Divorce Lawyer
"What Story Do I Want My Children to Tell About Their Parents' Divorce?"
Though the terms "dissolution" and "divorce" are related and in common use, often interchangeable, they are, in fact, different ways to bring a marriage to its end. Generally, dissolution and divorce differ in that:
- Dissolution is accomplished through cooperation between a husband and wife with the aid of skilled and caring professionals. Proceedings are conducted outside the court system so records are private; decisions are agreed upon between parties, so there is no risk that a judge will hand down a decree that one or both sides find unacceptable.
- Divorce is accomplished through a risky fight in which sides are drawn up, cases are presented to a judge, all documents are made public through their entry into the court's record system and the result is left to an overworked judge who has little insight into the true issues affecting your case.
I am Cincinnati divorce attorney Maury White, and from 1978 to 2000 my Ohio family law practice conformed to society's accepted method of dispute resolution — courtroom litigation. In 2000 I was able to focus my practice on the dispute resolution methods which as a lawyer, I know, serve clients' best interests: Collaborative Law and mediation.
Divorce and litigation will eventually end your marriage just as Collaborative Law and the resulting marriage dissolution will. Divorce, though, almost invariably increases hostility, squanders resources, allows emotions to divert attention from problem solving and, when left up to a judge, results in heartbreak for a party that expected, and likely deserved, a better outcome.
There Are Better Ways
Collaborative Law, ending with a dissolution of the marriage, directly and effectively addresses all of the shortcomings of divorce and litigation and reliably results in outcomes which allow all parties to build new lives. As one recent Collaborative Law client put it, "I truly felt that this [process] was "collaborative," not adversarial ... and that while this agreement may not be considered fair and equitable [in the court's view] from our perspective and for me, it is."
Divorce mediation is another option that results in more satisfactory outcomes than litigation. I often serve as an impartial neutral mediator, guiding spouses toward a resolution without the need to go to court. When mediating, I do not give legal advice to either spouse. Instead, I focus on helping the couple communicate effectively and resolve issues together. Like Collaborative Law, mediation helps to reduce conflict and gives couples control over their own situation.
Through the Collaborative Process or mediation, you can resolve all the issues you may face, including child custody and visitation, child support, property division and every other facet of a typical divorce.
Contact a Westchester Family Law Attorney for a Consultation
I accept credit cards, am available for off-hour appointments and operate my office in a convenient location midway between I-71 and I-75. To arrange a meeting, please call 513-770-9035 or 888-881-7015. You can also contact my Cincinnati law firm online.
