Inevitably, in the field of domestic relations, every client who seeks out an attorney comes looking for answers. How much time? How much money? How much will these personal and private conflicts cost me? How much can I expect to receive? How much of this and how much of that?
Clients are in search of answers to either confirm or dispel their fears. The pain is real and human nature prompts us all to try as hard as we can to limit the length of time we are exposed to such unwanted discomfort.
Before the end, however, comes the beginning and the middle.
It does not begin with hiring an attorney. The beginning is to actually understand your choices for how to go about ending a marriage. In Ohio, your choices are Divorce or Dissolution. The former requires a court (judge or magistrate) to make decisions for you in the face of your conflict; the latter requires a context for reaching agreements about children and finances before ever considering potential outcomes.
So, if you wish to control your own destiny, and protect your interests, Dissolution is for you. The process which provides a context for making all the necessary decisions is called The Collaborative Process. Lawyers experienced in the practice of Collaborative Law are knowledgeable about what it takes to protect your interests and what it takes to protect your children’s interests. Collaborative lawyers do not find it necessary to resolve their clients’ conflicts in court. Their experience lies in providing advice and legal counsel, assistance in evaluating options and negotiation of acceptable settlements.