The emotional effort it takes to pick up the phone to call a divorce attorney should not be underestimated. And we’ve found that it isn’t just because a relationship’s ending becomes more real when someone picks up the phone. It is also concern about what potential judgment may be waiting for them on the other end of the line. What if they judge me, my life, my decisions, how I got here, who I am, my faith, my love, my choices? Will I be accepted?
Here, the answer is a resounding yes.
A client recently called us feeling deeply conflicted: Her faith condemned divorce, but her marriage had become untenable. Could we proceed at her pace, respect her beliefs, and keep matters private and confidential? Absolutely.
For some clients, even sharing something as seemingly simple as their spouse's name can feel like a personal disclosure, particularly when it reveals that they are in a same-sex relationship. Pronouns, for themselves or their children, infidelity, their own or their spouse’s, financial choices, new partners, mental health concerns, and substance use are just a few of the very personal things that someone calling will eventually share with their attorney.
Whatever your circumstances, whomever you love, whatever your diagnosis, whatever you believe, whatever excellent or not-so-excellent choices you’ve made, our office and the people within it work hard to create a space where you will feel safe.
That same commitment to meeting people where they are extends to the legal process itself. When a relationship ends, the process of moving forward doesn't have to make an already difficult transition more adversarial.
Collaborative divorce offers couples an alternative to traditional litigation. Rather than asking a judge to make decisions about your family, you and your spouse or partner work toward agreements together, with the guidance of your own attorneys and, when appropriate, other professionals.
The process is designed to focus on the people involved, the issues that matter to them, and the family they have built, no matter what that family looks like or what their beliefs are. This includes same-sex couples, transgender couples, families with deeply held religious beliefs, folks who value privacy and an individualized approach to uncoupling, parents who wish to keep children out of litigation, and others.
Collaborative Law Is About Your Family—not a One-Size-Fits-All Model
Every couple's circumstances are different.
Some couples are raising children together. Some have children from previous relationships. Some own a home or business together. Others may have spent years building financial lives that don't fit neatly into traditional categories.
A collaborative approach doesn't presume that a family has to look a certain way or that each person has to have a clearly defined role within the family. Instead, the process begins with understanding your circumstances and identifying the decisions that need to be made.
Depending on your situation, those decisions may include:
Parenting arrangements and schedules
Emotional support arrangements for children through the process
Coparenting help
Child support and other financial responsibilities
Division of property and other assets
Retirement accounts and investments
Business interests
Spousal support
Insurance and other ongoing financial matters
Practical arrangements for moving forward after separation
The goal is to create agreements that make sense for the people involved.
We handle each matter with professionalism, discretion, and respect. Legal issues can be deeply personal and complex, so we take time to understand your family's circumstances. We explain your options and guide you through the process, helping you make informed, thoughtful decisions about your future.
You don't need to explain why your family is different before you can receive thoughtful legal representation. You deserve a process that starts by understanding your family as it is and representation that walks with you as you help determine what it will become.
