Collaborative Law Attorneys Serving DuPage County
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) allows people who are involved in family law cases to work through their problems with the assistance of trained professionals without the active involvement of the Court. The goal is to reach a solution that both parties agree to and is in the best interests of the family. This approach usually eliminates the need for costly, time-consuming litigation. It is often very effective in divorce cases, and it can be used to reach agreements about marital property division and issues such as spousal support and child custody.
Options for Alternative Dispute Resolution
Methods of ADR include:
- Mediation — Parties may work together to reach an agreement with the help of a neutral third party mediator. They can discuss their concerns openly, make compromises, and negotiate a settlement that both parties will be satisfied with.
- Collaborative law — Parties may working with lawyers who are trained in the collaborative process to reach an agreement that is beneficial to their family. They will agree to cooperate with each other, negotiate in good faith, and disclose all requested information. The attorneys representing each party will be required to withdraw from the case if a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached, which provides encouragement to resolve matters without the need for litigation.
- Arbitration — Parties may agree to let an arbitrator decide the outcome of their dispute. The procedures followed may be similar to a trial, but they will be less formal, and the arbitrator may seek to find compromises and come up with solutions that will address each party's needs and concerns.
Mediation and collaborative law are often used in family law cases; arbitration is generally used in commercial, employment, and other civil disputes. By finding ways to resolve disputes outside of the courtroom, parties can often complete their cases more quickly while minimizing the costs involved. They can also have more control over the outcome of a case, and both parties may be more satisfied with the results.
There are many advantages to mediation and collaborative law. Mediation and collaborative law are less adversarial processes than litigation. They are generally less stressful for children because they see their parents working together instead of fighting each other in court. They give the parties the ability to control the outcome of their future rather than having a judge make the final determination based on a small snapshot of your life.
However, ADR does not work for every family or for every case. If your family law matter cannot be resolved through mediation or collaborative law, we can advise you on handling your case in court through traditional litigation.
Contact Our DuPage County Collaborative Divorce Lawyers
At Andrew Cores Family Law Group, our family law attorneys are trained in collaborative law and as mediators. Our attorneys effectively use ADR to assist our clients in reaching beneficial agreements for their families. Find out more by making an appointment with an alternative dispute resolution attorney today.
To make schedule a free consultation with our Wheaton collaborative law attorneys, please call 630-407-1225 or contact us online. We have offices in DuPage County and Kendall County.
