Reliable And Knowledgeable Legal Guidance From A Collaborative Divorce Lawyer

Once the decision to end the marriage has been made, it is vital for both spouses to retain an experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney. John Heilbrun has over 35 years of experience as an Ohio family lawyer, and he understands the emotional distress that most people experience when facing the end of their marriage. John will meet with you to discuss your situation and to inform you about the various legal and practical processes that exist to resolve the issues that occurred before the end of your marriage.

What Is Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative divorce is a process by which spouses who have decided to end their marriage seek to resolve the issues arising from that decision in a cooperative and nonadversarial way. It requires that each spouse be represented by an attorney with training in the collaborative process. In Ohio, it involves:

• A participation agreement: A contract signed by both parties and their attorneys committing to resolve issues without court intervention, and if the process fails, the collaborative attorneys must withdraw from the case
• A team approach: Involving insight from neutral professionals such as financial advisers, child specialists and mental health professionals who help address specific aspects of the divorce
• Full transparency: Requires full and voluntary disclosure of all relevant information without formal discovery procedures
• Confidentiality: All communications made during the collaborative process are generally confidential and privileged, with limited exceptions

Once the parties reach an agreement, the attorneys submit it to the court for approval. The court then incorporates the agreed-upon terms into the final divorce decree, without the need for trial.

One of the main goals of the collaborative process is to end the marriage in a respectful manner. It allows spouses to have a divorce in a way that is most likely to cause the least amount of additional damage to the spouses, their relationship with each other, and their children.

The Benefits Of A Collaborative Divorce

From financial benefits to more decision-making power, the collaborative divorce process offers several advantages over traditional court litigation:

• It can be more cost-effective: The collaborative divorce process typically costs less than going to trial since it avoids costly court hearings, formal discovery and multiple court dates. Joint financial advisers can also help create effective post-divorce financial plans for both parties.
• It can reduce conflict and protect your family’s privacy: The process focuses on respectful discussions and solving problems together rather than going against each other in court. Moroever, it keeps personal and financial matters private, unlike public court hearings.
• It can offer more control over outcomes: In a collaborative divorce, both parties make their own decisions rather than having a judge decide. This allows for creative, personal agreements that courts might not typically order. It is also more flexible, since it moves at the parties’ own pace.

This process can help reduce conflict between spouses, unlike court trials, which often make tensions worse. Even when the trials eventually settle, they often leave lasting resentment that can harm your relationship after divorce and hurt your children.

In a collaborative divorce, spouses work together with lawyers and other professionals to make their own informed choices. This approach increases the chance of reaching agreements they can both accept. Moreover, it can help build a better relationship for the future. This can be especially important when co-parenting children after the divorce.

Why Choose John Heilbrun?

Few attorneys in the Cincinnati/Hamilton County area have more training and experience in the collaborative divorce process than John Heilbrun. He has been representing clients in cases like these for over three decades. John is also a member of a very active Cincinnati Collaborative Law group that meets monthly to discuss situations and issues that arise in the collaborative process. This allows him to better assist his clients in the future if similar issues should arise.

Moreover, John is a lifelong learner. He regularly participates in additional training in this area of law to improve his skills and to better help his clients amicably resolve the issues that arise during divorce. 

Get In Touch With The Law Office of John Heilbrun Today

Divorce does not have to be a high-conflict process. Let an experienced attorney like John Heilbrun guide you through your options. Call 513-548-5606 or send a message through this contact page to schedule a consultation in our Cincinnati office.