WORKING TOGETHER FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN DIVORCE
In Texas, many lawyers say they practice collaborative law without really having invested in acquiring the skills necessary to be an effective collaborative attorney. Hargrave Family Law’s founding attorney, Jennifer Hargrave, is committed to collaborative divorce and believes that with the right team, it can be a preferred option for many families facing divorce. Not only is she a continuing student of collaborative negotiation skills, including attending ongoing in-depth and extended training, but she has also been called upon to teach at collaborative conferences such as the International Association of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Divorce Texas events and other civil collaborative law trainings. She was also a contributing author to the leading book on collaborative divorce in Texas, Collaborative Law – Start to Finish, published by the State Bar of Texas.
The collaborative divorce process turns away from the adversarial nature of traditional divorce proceedings and recognizes parties who want to leave the marriage with as little conflict as possible. The team at Hargrave Family Law has extensive training in the collaborative process, and we truly believe that it’s an innovative way for couples to leave a marriage without becoming unnecessarily combative.
When you and your ex-partner agree to participate in collaborative divorce, you pledge to be open and honest in your negotiations, focus on solutions rather than the problems of the past, negotiate in good faith, and strive to find agreements that do not require court intervention. Collaborative divorce is designed to protect both parties. The information you share during collaboration cannot be used in court if either party decides to terminate the collaborative process and go through the litigation process. In fact, if the parties are unable to reach a resolution in the collaborative process, they will need to terminate their lawyers and hire new counsel to represent them in the adversarial litigation process. This “collaborative commitment” ensures that everyone is working towards the best resolution, while also protecting clients in the process.
This collaborative divorce option often leads to mutually beneficial solutions in a more efficient manner than conventional divorce proceedings. For couples divorcing who have children at home, this process can be especially beneficial. Using the collaborative divorce process allows parents the opportunity to maintain a respectful and family-focused co-parenting relationship throughout the divorce process. This also lays the groundwork for a meaningful and productive co-parenting journey after the divorce is concluded.
A collaborative divorce is also an excellent option for couples with significant assets in their marital estate, preserving their privacy and allowing the financial consultant on the team to work with them in properly assessing and formulating a mutually agreeable property division.
With the guidance of Hargrave Family Law on your side, you can work together toward resolving your divorce collaboratively, establishing a constructive relationship with your former partner that gives you tools to resolve conflict and allows you to co-parent in the future in a way that is best for your family.
