Manhattan Beach Collaborative Divorce Lawyers

For a wide variety of reasons, many couples are choose a collaborative divorce as opposed to conventional divorce proceedings. In a collaborative divorce, both parties and their lawyers choose to resolve all divorce issues cooperatively and civilly away from the courtroom. By choosing a collaborative divorce, couples can get through a divorce settlement smoothly and efficiently without the stress and trauma of the stereotypically heated divorce case.

If you are considering a divorce and you do not have a hostile relationship with your spouse, a qualified legal representative can help you to understand the possible advantages of seeking a collaborative divorce. At the Law Offices of Baden V. Mansfield, our Manhattan Beach collaborative divorce lawyers are here to provide you with the legal assistance you need. Contact us today by calling 310-546-5858 to schedule a free consultation with a legal professional.

Why You Need a Collaborative Divorce Lawyer

In the ideal scenario, you and your spouse could agree on the terms of your divorce without ever leaving the kitchen table. But even with all the goodwill in the world, removing yourself from another person’s life remains complicated. Issues like spousal support and property division can prove extremely complex, and sometimes there isn’t an obvious solution to these problems.

A good collaborative divorce lawyer can help you maintain the ease of a kitchen-table divorce, while also providing the technical expertise your situation may require. They can help you formulate your concerns about various aspects of your separation, and then work toward solutions that benefit everyone.

Each spouse typically retains their own lawyer, so you can be confident your attorney will have your interests in mind. But unlike a contested divorce lawyer, you can trust that they won’t ultimately make the situation worse through unnecessarily aggressive tactics. Collaborative divorce lawyers are trained to resolve differences without using litigation as a negotiating tactic, and without viewing divorce as a zero-sum game.

Even those involved in an amicable divorce may have genuine concerns about the division of debts, property, or their children’s living arrangements. But clients often find that working with a collaborative divorce attorney leads them to more creative, pragmatic, and satisfying solutions than they would find in a more combative atmosphere.

There is no reason you should see the inside of a courtroom to achieve the divorce you want. Call 310-546-5858 today to schedule an appointment with one of our trained collaborative divorce attorneys.

Why Choose Us

Baden Mansfield has more than 30 years of experience in civil litigation, focusing primarily on family law. He has handled nearly every issue which could arise in these cases, from real estate and business evaluation to child custody litigation. This has given him expertise in all the most potentially problematic areas of collaborative divorces – while also convincing him of their beneficial value to families and children. With law offices in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and other cities, he has instilled this philosophy in all parts of his legal team.

At the Manhattan Beach Law Offices of Baden Mansfield, we know that legal ability is only one part of a successful attorney-client relationship. If you choose us to consult us in your collaborative divorce, you can expect legal skill matched with compassionate and timely service. Past clients consistently stress Mr. Mansfield’s professionalism, calm demeanor, and plain speech even in the most difficult situations. As one divorced client (a lawyer himself) puts it: “We ended up … defusing the potential issues that could have dragged on for years and I doubt that this would have been achieved had I not listened to Baden’s legal advice.”

At the Law Offices of Baden Mansfield, we know how stressful even an amicable divorce can be, and are committed to making the process as quick and easy for you as possible.

Elements of a Collaborative Divorce

In a collaborative divorce, each individual agrees to the following terms:

• All discussions and conversations will be constructive

• Lawyers will work to achieve a fair agreement and solution for everyone

• All discussions and negotiations will consider the best interest of everyone involved, including the children

Unlike with conventional divorces, many couples who are able to complete a collaborative divorce hope to keep an amicable and respectable relationship after the divorce, especially if children are involved. If you want to pursue a collaborative divorce, contact one of our qualified attorneys today.

What a Collaborative Divorce Looks Like

In a collaborative divorce, each spouse starts by meeting separately with their lawyer to discuss whatever concerns they might have. Just like in a normal divorce, their lawyer advises their client on legal rights and obligations, and work to secure their desires as much as possible. However, in this case, both spouses and their lawyers will then typically attend a series of four-way meetings. In these meetings, your lawyers will help facilitate calm and useful discussion, while encouraging creative solutions to possible roadblocks. The attorneys may also occasionally bring in experts, such as financial planners or child support specialists, to help their clients make informed decisions about their future arrangements.

This collaborative approach can help both parties work through all of the issues which might prove difficult in a divorce, including:

• Division of debts
• Asset division
• Child custody and visitation
• Alimony
• Child support

The process ends when both lawyers have finalized an agreement of dissolution which satisfies their clients. Unlike a court-ordered divorce, both spouses have complete control over the terms of this agreement. When a court clerk finalizes the divorce by issuing a Notice of Entry of Judgment, you can be sure that everything they enter is what you and your former spouse want.

Is Collaborate Divorce Right For Me?

Collaborative divorce can have many obvious benefits over the traditional kind. It saves time and money, as a significant portion of divorce costs come from filing fees and court appearances. And it also produces an outcome which is mutually satisfying for both spouses. As you might expect, this makes both parties much more likely to abide by the terms of the agreement. Perhaps most importantly, it is likely to produce a happier outcome for any children you might have.

However, there are some situations in which a collaborative divorce may not be appropriate. Both parties have to be committed to the process in the first place. This includes being willing to voluntarily provide all necessary financial documentation. The collaborative process is also generally bad for marriages involving any kind of domestic violence. When a power disparity exists in marriage, this is likely to perpetuate itself in the divorce agreement unless you are careful – in these cases, a litigated divorce still might be the best outcome for you and your children.

Contact Us

The time to act is now. Pursue the divorce you and your former spouse want. To discuss your options or ask questions of a qualified legal representative, contact the Manhattan Beach collaborative divorce lawyers at the Law Offices of Baden V. Mansfield at 310-546-5858. Divorce may not be easy, but it doesn’t have to be as hard as some lawyers make it. Contact our collaborative divorce attorneys today for a quick and civil end to your marriage.