What is Collaborative Law?

Collaborative Practice is a solution-oriented approach for clients determined to prevent permanent damage to relationships -- even difficult relationships. Characterized by dignity and fairness, Collaborative Practice is especially useful in divorce, child custody, and civil disputes where parties agree to maintain collaborative standards. The effects of divorce on children and the quality of life after divorce are especially relevant in Collaborative Practice.  

LGBT

Jennifer has spent over ten years as a family law litigator and an adoption attorney in Maryland and the District of Columbia.  During this time she assisted her clients in property and child related litigation, mediation and settlement negotiations, complex adoptions and uncontested adoptions.  She has handled complex property and financial matters for LGBT clients and assisted in access arrangements, parenting orders and child support matters with the then current legal landscape to provide her clients the best possible legal outcomes.        

Jennifer's desire to assist LGBT clients in building and dissolving their families while ensuring legal protections continues today.  Thus, in addition to assisting LGBT families in growing their families through adoption or third party reproduction, Jennifer works with LGBT clients interested in creating a property agreements, prenuptial agreements, donor agreements or parenting agreements through negotiation, mediation or the collaborative process.  For LGBT clients facing a divorce or dissolution, Jennifer will work with them with the use of Collaborative Law.  Jennifer limits her divorce and dissolution practice to same sex clients willing to avail themselves of the Collaborative process.  Like a family building case, collaborative law takes time, patience and commitment by all involved with the family.  Jennifer does not handle litigation or attorney negotiation dissolution or divorce.     

Collaborative dissolution is not a dispute resolution option in the same sense as mediation or arbitration. Rather, collaborative dissolution is a set of voluntary rules entered into by the professionals hired by you and your partner. While the details may vary from collaborative practice to collaborative practice, the central ideas, which are set out in a contract signed by all parties and counsel, are as follows:

  • Negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement without using the court to determine any issues for the clients;
  • Withdrawal of the professionals involved if either client goes to court;
  • Engage in open and honest communication and information sharing; and
  • Create shared solutions that take into account the highest priorities of the clients and the children.

Collaborative dissolution allows you all the benefits of getting legal advice without the negative possibilities of involving courts and lawyers in your personal life. Collaborative dissolution lawyers help you make good decisions about financial issues. Collaborative dissolution gives you the benefits of good legal representation, without many of the negative factors. If you are considering a separation, divorce or dissolution from your partner, call Jennifer to discuss how you can do so while maintaining a respectful relationship with your former partner.