traditional divorce

As a client of the O'Connell Law firm, you can choose which option will work best for you when dissolving your marriage using the traditional model.

Agreed Divorce: This involves direct negotiation between you and your spouse. This approach should work well if you are at a high-functioning point in your relationship and can effectively communicate with each other. If you and your spouse have reached agreements regarding the division of your marital estate, then you will likely decrease time and expenses in your divorce.

Litigation: Sometimes, it is necessary for a client to use court intervention and litigate certain issues because we want or need a judge to make a desicision for us, especailly if high conflict is involved in your case. Hopefully, through O'Connell Law Firm's litigation experience, we will help to resolve your case before having to go to trial and be able to reach an agreement during settlement negotiations. However, if litigation is necessary, Jill is an experienced trial attorney who has appellate experience through the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, our firm will work the top local professionals to assist us in trial preparation to best represent your needs in the courtroom.

Collaborative Law is an alternative to a traditional litigation divorce. It is different from litigation because you and your spouse control the process. It is the concept of dissolving your marriage without going to court allowing you to redefine your family without fighting every step of the way.

If you and your spouse decide to use the collaborative approach, then, each spouse hires an attorney trained and experienced in the collaborative method, and each party and their respective attorney sign an agreement to not go to court. Your attorney remains your advocate throughout the process.

Two neutral professionals (a financial professional and a communication professional) are also part of the team; however they are neutral and not advocates for either party. You have the opportunity to resolve the conflicts in your divorce in joint meetings. You and your spouse will work to make the decisions in the case, with the professional team, and reach results that are acceptable to each of you. The process is driven by you and your spouse, not the court and not the attorneys.

Collaborative Law allows the parties to retain their dignity and self-respect throughout the process of divorce while working with their lawyers to reach a settlement. Each party focuses on reaching an acceptable resolution and not on "winning" and "losing".

If you would like to discuss collaborative law more fully, please call to set up an appointment with the O'Connell Law Firm.