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.
If you have questions about your situation please contact Cincinnati divorce attorney Maury White today at 513-770-4350