Divorce Settlement in Sonoma County, California
If you are getting a divorce, there has already been enough fighting in your marriage. For many couples, taking marital problems to court only adds to the hurt, solving issues is a contentious manner, if at all. At my firm - Thomas E. Coombes, Attorney at Law - I help clients throughout Santa Rosa, California, resolve their divorce through cooperative law. Contact me online or call 707-568-5223 to schedule an appointment with an experienced lawyer.
Settling Divorce in a Cooperative Environment
At my firm, I handle all aspects of divorce using a variety of cooperative methods. Each method has slightly different aspects, making them more appropriate for some client situations than others. These methods are not restricted to people who already agree on what they want. What is important is that clients agree that they want to negotiate a settlement.
Divorce Mediation: Divorce mediation is best for people who have a sense of basic agreement on most major issues. In mediation, parties are not typically represented by attorneys; rather, they negotiate in front of a neutral third party who helps them communicate effectively and respectfully about their issues.
Collaborative Law: Collaborative law is a formal process in which each spouse has an attorney and is committed to negotiating a settlement. This method works well for people who are essentially committed to settlement but are not completely sure they will be able to settle. If a settlement cannot be reached, none of the attorneys involved are allowed to represent the clients in subsequent trials. This means each spouse would need to find and hire a new attorney, often providing extra incentive to reach a settlement initially.
Attorney-Assisted Settlement: This method typically works best for people who trust each other and agree on most issues. Attorney-assisted settlement helps people who already have an idea of what they want the outcome to look like but need help bringing the settlement together. Working with an attorney is essential in helping ensure neither person is in a position where they might be taken advantage of.
Attorney-Negotiated Settlement: Attorney-negotiated settlement works well for people who are truly committed to settlement but do not agree on the desired outcome and want to work with an attorney to protect their best interests. In this situation, each side is represented by an attorney, and both sides are committed to coming to a settlement.
Settling your divorce does not need to involve more fighting. I help clients resolve their marital issues in a non-contentious method out of the courtroom. Contact me online or call 707-568-5223 to schedule an appointment.
