Divorce can be very difficult emotionally. Powerful feelings can get stirred up when discussing custody arrangements or a change in custody. Getting into a custody fight can be one of the most expensive, emotionally draining and destructive things someone can do. That’s true whether it is an initial custody determination or a subsequent modification or change of custody. A custody fight can be as damaging for the children as it is for the adults. For those who want a more civilized means of … [Read more...]
Is Collaborative Law Right for You?
Since Collaborative Law came to Texas in 2000, more and more people have heard about it and have used the process to resolve family law matters. As more lawyers, mental health professions and financial professionals have become involved in Collaborative Law, they are telling more and more potential clients about the new option that is available. People are also hearing about it from friends and discovering it on the Internet and occasionally in the news media. Because Collaborative Law is … [Read more...]
Myths About Collaborative Divorce
Although Collaborative Law can be considered a breath of fresh air in the legal system, it is still a relatively new process for resolving disputes in Texas. It’s not widely known, but more and more people are learning about it and requesting that it be used. As the public seeks to learn about the process, they sometimes encounter misinformation. To help them recognize the bad information, I will briefly mention some common misconceptions. These comments will refer primarily to divorces, but … [Read more...]
Helping Children Deal With the Grief of Divorce
Confronting the loss of the family system can be very difficult for children coping with divorce. Caring adults in these children’s lives may feel overwhelmed and helpless when faced with divorce and may feel unskilled in assisting children navigate this confusing time. These adults may want to help, but have no idea what to do. Being Supportive A grieving child needs supportive adult help to go through and complete the mourning process. Adults must take the initiative in offering help. The … [Read more...]
What Issues are Appropriate for Collaborative Law?
Many people think Collaborative Law is useful only in the easy cases where both parties are basically in agreement. They think that spouses or ex-spouses couldn't sit down together and have civilized negotiations on sensitive child custody or financial issues. Because couples sometimes get into arguments when they discuss emotional issues on their own, some think that Collaborative Law can't work in high conflict families or where there may have been infidelity or other misconduct. Actually, … [Read more...]
The Differences Between Collaboration and Litigation
One of the things we emphasize most in explaining Collaborative Law is that it's different from the traditional divorce process, which utilizes litigation. Here are some of what we call "process descriptors," which help establish the difference between litigation and Collaboration. In litigation: * Parties in disputes often feel intimidated, fearful, anxious, powerless, out gunned, and not in control. * The process is often focused on assigning blame or fault for problems. * The results … [Read more...]
Welcome to Our New Blog!
This is the official new blog for the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas. As part of our ongoing efforts to educate people about the Collaborative Law process -- including the recent debut of the new Collaborative Law Institute of Texas website -- we're launching this blog. It will feature articles from Collaborative Law Institute of Texas professionals, answers to some common (and not-so-common) questions about the Collaborative Law process, and news from across the state, nation, and even … [Read more...]
