What Family Issues Can We Address in the Collaborative Law Process in Florida

Most people involved in a family law case want to limit conflict. Collaborative law can be a great tool to do that. Under Florida law (Florida Statutes § 61.56(4)), “a process intended to resolve a collaborative matter without intervention by a tribunal.” In other words, is a specialized, confidential, and non-adversarial process designed to help family law issues out of court. Within this blog post, our Clearwater collaborative law attorney provides an overview of the issues that can be addressed within the process in Florida.

Divorce 

The most common reason that people enter the collaborative law process in Florida is for a divorce. For many couples, collaborative law provides a confidential and low-conflict forum that is the best option to help them move toward an amicable and uncontested divorce. It involves both spouses and their lawyers working with trained professionals to negotiate terms of the divorce—from asset division to spousal support to child custody—without the need for litigation. Collaborative law can help divorcing couples in Clearwater save time, money, and stress.

 Child Custody/Child Visitation/Parenting Plans 

Collaborative law puts a strong emphasis on the parties working together. For that reason, it is often a great option for divorcing, separating, or divorced/separated parents who are trying to resolve a co-parenting issue. In Florida, parents are encouraged to cooperatively develop parenting plans that detail custody arrangements, visitation schedules, and decision-making responsibilities. The collaborative law process is designed to keep the children’s best interests at the forefront—even if the parents themselves have some significant interpersonal conflict and may struggle to cooperate.

 Financial Obligations (Alimony, Child Support) 

Collaborative law can also be a useful process for addressing ongoing financial obligations. Specifically, parties may use it for cases related to spousal support (alimony) and child support.  In Florida, this process allows parties to openly discuss and negotiate financial support, considering the standard of living during the marriage, the duration of the marriage, and each party’s financial circumstances. Even if a conflict has already arisen—such as if child support payments are delinquent—the collaborative law process may still be the best option to move forward.

 Marital Agreements (Prenups and Postnups) 

A couple does not have to be divorced or separated to use the collaborative law process in Florida. There are some cases in which people enter a confidential collaborative law setting in order to negotiate a marital agreement. Indeed, you can use Florida’s collaborative law process to negotiate a prenuptial agreement (prenup) or a postnuptial agreement (postnup). By using this process, couples can help to ensure that their marital agreements are tailored to their needs.

Contact Our Clearwater, FL Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Today

At the Law Office of Gale H. Moore P.A., our Clearwater divorce attorney is a compassionate and experienced advocate for clients. We are here to help you navigate the collaborative process. It can work for a wide range of cases—from divorce to custody. Contact our team for a confidential consultation. We handle collaborative law matters in Clearwater and throughout Pinellas County.