Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Stanislaus County, CA

Not all divorces are reduced to emotional, contentious screaming matches. Sometimes, both spouses amicably realize that they can no longer remain married and are able to respectfully resolve many issues outside of court on their own. A collaborative divorce is one in which essential legal matters of a divorce can be settled between the parties, like child custody, asset and debt division, and spousal support. The goal is to preserve a cordial relationship between the parties, which can be especially necessary for those who will be co-parenting.

A Stanislaus County, CA, collaborative divorce lawyer is a family law attorney trained in compromise and mediation. They represent your interests and advocate for them, getting to know your needs, goals, and desires for the future.

When you work with Attorney Bernie, you benefit from our decades of combined legal experience in divorce cases and the insight and leadership from firm founder Bernie Kempen, a family law specialist certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. We offer a complimentary initial consultation, so please contact us today to get started.

How Can A Stanislaus County Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Help Me?

Collaborative divorce attorneys seek compromise and workable solutions that benefit both parties. They know California family law well and can give you guidance on what is and is not possible in your divorce. Many of them may be trained in mediation and negotiations and can offer cool-headed advice on certain “hot-button” issues between you and your spouse.

We work with the other spouse and their lawyer to determine workable custody arrangements and financial settlements. In these four-way meetings, we may employ the services of financial specialists, divorce coaches, life coaches, and similar professionals as needed. We help you develop reasonable solutions based on your unique family situation and challenges.

Once we negotiate a fair settlement, we draft the agreement between both spouses and then file it with the court.

What To Expect In A Collaborative Divorce In California

Collaborative divorces have a few specific requirements:

• All parties, clients and professionals alike, agree to work respectfully and negotiate in good faith
• Both spouses produce any necessary documents and other information (like the extent of assets and investments or income statements)
• Deliver all requested information to the other party’s lawyer in a timely manner

Clients in collaborative divorces do not engage in expensive legal procedures to gather the information needed to negotiate a fair divorce decree. In fact, the participating parties sign a contract that expressly prohibits them from going to court to resolve issues while they are negotiating a settlement. The attorneys representing each client in the collaborative divorce are likewise limited by contracts that forbid them from representing their client in an adversarial proceeding against the other spouse.

You, your lawyer, your soon-to-be-ex, and their lawyer participate in regular meetings to address the matters at hand. These meetings are not just to work out an acceptable divorce settlement but also to resolve current issues and make interim arrangements, like temporary child custody and visitation or who will be paying what bills during the process.

You have more freedom in a collaborative divorce to brainstorm options, negotiate compromises, and think creatively about what is best for your unique situation.

Is Collaborative Divorce, Right For Me?

Many of our clients choose to work with a Stanislaus County collaborative divorce lawyer because they wish to be fully involved in the theories and avoid going to court. If you believe that this is a good alternative to more contentious divorce proceedings, please contact Attorney Bernie today for a personalized consultation.