Our Approach to Protecting Your Interests
Our divorce services range from preparation of client negotiated separation agreements to full blown litigation. While I enjoy the courtroom, i work hard to settle cases. I believe that the best solutions come from the parties, not the attorneys, the mediator, or the judge. No one is in a better position to know what will work best for your family. Rather than deciding the outcome for you, I work with you, your spouse, and his or her attorney to develop workable solutions for you and your children. With a practical, problem-solving approach in mind, I am able to resolve many cases without going to court.
Settlement is preferable in almost every case for any number of reasons. It is less costly, both financially and emotionally. Divorce - even without litigation - is already a major emotional stress on any family. The changes in family living arrangements alone usually causes temporary adustment problems for most people. Many people feel overwhelmed by the litigation process which usually includes a burdensome discovery process of sharing written documents and answering written or oral questions, the selection and interviews of potential witnesses, and all the anxiety of formal court proceedings.
The cost of litigation can also be overwhelming. Litigation takes a lot of time and the billable hours add up quickly. At a rate of $250 to $300 per hour, litigation costs can spiral out of control long before the case is resolved, sometimes depleting the lions share of the family's financial resources.
Just as important as minimizing the emotional and financial stresses, settlement can be custom-tailored to a family's interests and needs in a way that may not occur should a court decide your case. A judge cannot possibly understand the details and intricacies of your family situation from evidence allowed to be presented at trial. More importantly, judges are constrained by the statutes and rulings of higher courts in other cases and cannot impose the creative solutions that you, your spouse, and your respective attorneys devise to specifically suit your particular situation.
