Collaborative Law was founded by Stuart G. Webb, a Minnesota attorney, in 1990. After almost quitting the practice of law due to the hostile and stress-filled environment, Mr. Webb chose to begin practicing as a settlement lawyer only; i.e., no more going to court. He developed the team approach to support the parties as they worked toward settlement. From here the idea blossomed as more and more lawyers saw it as a peaceful and productive way of resolving disputes.

What Types of Family Law disputes can be resolved with Collaborative Law?

Collaborative law can be used for any dispute. It has been used the most often in the family law arena to resolve disputes related to:

* Divorce, Legal Separation or Annulment
* Child Custody/Parenting Plans
* Visitation and Visitation Disputes
* Spousal Maintenance/Alimony
* Child Support, Daycare Costs and College Tuition
* Valuing Assets
* Division of Property
* Division of Debt
* Tax Issues
* Paternity Issues
* Break-up of Same Sex Partnerships
* Guardianships
* Adoption

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How do I begin the process?

It takes two willing participants to effectively use the collaborative law process, and two lawyers willing to practice law collaboratively. The most important distinguishing feature for collaborative lawyers is that they both agree, if the matter cannot be settled out of court, to withdraw from further represenation. The parties then have to find new lawyers to go to court. This provides a big incentive for the parties to settle.

The most important distinguishing feature for the parties is that both sides agree to full and fair disclosure of all relevant facts; no stone-walling or game-playing. The parties seek to reach a settlement for the highest good of all concerned.

Since Collaborative law is a relatively new process, your spouse may be reluctant to agree without proper education regarding the benefits of the process. Therefore it is a good idea to:

* Schedule a restaurant “date” with your spouse to discuss Collaborative Family Law and share the information from this website. If you feel your spouse might be wary of the information coming from you, invite him to look up collaborative law on the internet.
* Review and choose from the list of dedicated collaborative law attorneys practicing law in your state.
* Meet with your attorney to discuss your case and the details of the process.

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A short introduction to the benefits of the collaborative law process.

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Cpl. Robert Balkcom, an assistant commander of the Georgia State Patrol post in Statesboro, said no charges have been filed yet, but they are likely, against Dougherty County Police Officer Jeremiah Fenn, 25, of Albany.

Officer Fenn was headed to Chatham County to take part in Operation Rolling Thunder, a 90-day effort to curb Savannah’s rising traffic fatality rate with the help of scores of officers from around the state.

Officer Fenn was driving eastbound near Metter when he took his eyes off the road for a second to look at the computer mounted in his car and struck a trailer being towed by an SUV traveling in the same direction and in the same lane, Cpl. Balkcom said.

The video camera in Officer Fenn’s car, which could have recorded the accident, was turned off, Cpl. Balkcom said.

The SUV overturned several times, ejecting Milton Wilcox, 33, of Savannah, a passenger who was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

Mr. Wilcox was pronounced dead at the scene. His father, William Wilcox, 57, of Savannah, the driver, was airlifted to Savannah’s Memorial Health University Medical Center with serious injuries, Cpl. Balkcom said.

A two-mile eastbound stretch of the interstate was closed for about six hours while members of the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team investigated the accident, Cpl. Balkcom said.

Witnesses told authorities that Officer Fenn’s police car was “traveling at a high rate of speed,” an issue that will be addressed by the investigation, Cpl. Balkcom said.

“There will more than likely be charges,” he said.

Officer Fenn is a participant in a statewide program known as Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (H.E.A.T.), a collaborative effort of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and eight local law enforcement agencies to nab aggressive drivers.

About Author

At LADY4JUSTICE®, we are committed to making a contribution to bring Michigan out of the negative spiral it was in when 2008 ended. To that end, we offer the Divorce Bailout Package™. Michigan divorce, Lawyers Southfieldr.

Peter Axelrod is a top Tucson divorce attorney, specializing in meditative and collaborative law. He is dedicated to helping families have a more successful, friendly divorce by utilizing over 25 years of experience in law and counseling and guidance. He believes that while a divorce is never a happy event to go through, with a proper mediation process it doesn’t have to be the angry, embittering, traumatic occurrence that seems to be the long accepted standard.

If you are going through a Tucson divorce, it is important for you to know that you do have options. Even if the decision to divorce has been made by your spouse, you can still decide how you want to go about the process. It is important for you to decide what your priorities are, regardless of your circumstances. Most of the time, both partners, and any children involved, are far better served by cooperating than by viewing each other as adversaries.

It is easy to find a Tucson divorce attorney, just like it is easy—at least at first—to enter into the divorce process intent on focusing on blame, anger and revenge. In the long run, however, this approach only leaves more pain and loss in the wake of an already deeply painful period. Although often successful in some sense, most Tucson divorce attorneys do not have the optimistic, cooperative outlook necessary to help clients navigate this difficult period with the least damage possible—financially, mentally and emotionally.

Axelrod Law has a successful history of resolving Tucson divorce cases OUT of court. By understanding the unique situation of each family, and meeting the needs of each member in a caring and professional way, Axelrod Law is committed to helping each and every client survive this difficult time so that they can move onto a happier future. Contact their website at www.axelrodlaw.com for further information.

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Toronto divorce lawyer Judith Holzman answers the Frequently Asked Question: “Who should use a collaborative-law resolution?” This Toronto and Maple, Ontario family lawyer can be reached at (905) 303-1070 or (416) 977-3050, or at www.divorcemag.com .

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WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Tuesday applauded Afghan President Hamid Karzai for accepting election fraud findings that invalidated nearly a third of the votes cast for him in August.

Obama said the breakthrough offers new hope that a credible Kabul government will emerge to partner with the U.S. and NATO in battling a resurgent Taliban insurgency and blocking al-Qaida's return.

Obama told reporters that he spoke by phone with the Afghan president after Karzai bowed to U.S. pressure and announced that he agreed to a runoff election Nov. 7, acknowledging that he fell short of a majority in the first balloting.

The original vote count had put Karzai well above the 50 percent mark he needed to be declared the outright winner, but a U.N.-based investigation determined that hundreds of thousands of his votes were tainted. Until Tuesday it was unclear whether Karzai would accept the findings and agree to a runoff.

"President Karzai and the other candidates have shown that they have the interests of the Afghan people at heart," Obama said. "This is a reflection of a commitment to the rule of law and the insistence that the Afghan people's will should be done."

In his remarks at the White House, Obama praised the work of U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, who was joined in talks in Kabul over the weekend by Sen. John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Obama also acknowledged the work of American troops fighting in Afghanistan.

In an Associated Press telephone interview from Dubai, Kerry said Tuesday that Karzai had felt deeply aggrieved by the pressure put on him to accept a runoff and the implication of Afghan incompetence.

"President Karzai really deeply believes he had won the election and he felt the process was flawed and he felt that the international community was kind of conspiring to push for a different outcome," Kerry said.

"He felt very deeply about the flaws of the process. He had people within his government, people within the election commission who felt they were being insulted about putting together a faulty election process. There were a lot of very deep feelings about Afghanistan's right to run its election, its competency in running it and so forth."

Obama put a positive spin on Karzai's decision.

"President Karzai's constructive actions established an important precedent for Afghanistan's new democracy," Obama said in a statement issued earlier Tuesday. "The Afghan constitution and laws are strengthened by President Karzai's decision, which is in the best interests of the Afghan people."

In reviewing its strategy for the war in Afghanistan — including contemplation of sending tens of thousands more U.S. troops next year — the White House has publicly questioned whether the Afghan government is too corrupt to serve as a worthwhile partner in the fight against a Taliban insurgency.

Administration officials on Tuesday appeared to signal that Karzai had taken a step in the right direction.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed Karzai's announcement as a boost for Afghan democracy. She made no direct mention of the fraudulent Karzai votes that were thrown out, although she referred to "a rough and contentious" election and weeks of "debate over the flaws in the vote."

"We remain committed to partnering with the Afghan people and their government on our shared objectives of strengthening good governance, tackling corruption, increasing economic opportunities and improving security for all Afghans," she said in a written statement.

Obama remains under pressure from some Republicans to complete his strategy review and decide on troop levels.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a leading advocate of bolstering U.S. troop levels, said Tuesday he was pleased by Karzai's decision and argued that improved security is the key to building a credible Kabul government.

"It is unrealistic to expect Afghan governance to improve significantly without improved security," McCain said. "That is why it is essential to implement the properly resourced counterinsurgency strategy that Gen. Stanley McChrystal and our senior commanders have called for, and that is why I continue to urge President Obama to provide our military and civilian leaders in Afghanistan with the resources they need as quickly as possible."

The White House said Obama also called Eikenberry to thank him for his collaborative work with Kerry and to get an update on the election situation. Obama also called Abdullah Abdullah, the former Afghan foreign minister who came in second in the August vote and will face off against Karzai on Nov. 7.

Eikenberry and Kerry had been deeply engaged with Karzai and other Afghan government officials over the past several days, apparently succeeding in persuading Karzai that he must accept the fraud probe results.

About Author

Peter Axelrod is a top Tucson divorce attorney, specializing in meditative and collaborative law. He is dedicated to helping families have a more successful, friendly divorce by utilizing over 25 years of experience in law and counseling and guidance.

The process of ending an established marriage can drain family finances relative to the animosity between spouses and the marriage rights at stake. Disagreements over property and child custody inevitably require many trips to the lawyers and extended court appearances.

The disruption in the lives of family members involves emotional fallout as it is without adding the frustration and anger over loss of money into the equation. The notion of collaborative law was thought up by American lawyer Stu Webb in 1990. Rather than using a neutral arbitrator each party is represented by a lawyer in a four-way negotiation. The family or divorce lawyers provide advice on the entitlements of each in a non-adversarial manner in order to bypass lengthy court procedures and the ongoing expenses of bitter litigation. The spouses sign a contract to renounce their right to threaten or pursue an action during the collaborative process. If one party later takes it to court both attorneys have to drop out and can no longer represent them, nor can they make use of any of the information disclosed.

In the past the divorce lawyer was stereotyped in comedy routines as the hand-wringing victor who was the beneficiary of a windfall every time an unfaithful husband got his just rewards in court. The real fact is that deep emotions are involved and those feeling can’t help but rub off on those interviewing them and hearing stories of neglect or abuse, not to any professional with a heartbeat. In homes where domestic violence has occurred and where children are involved the situation is delicate and even a repentant spouse may repeat the pattern that resulted in the split.

The attorneys choosing the collaborative route are specially trained in handling sensitive issues. Although first impression might suggest the lawyer is giving up hefty fees, the ultimate effect may prove to be more referrals and future business will come of the efficient and timely handling of the family crisis, and after all the time saved will enable the lawyer to accept more client cases. The deep financial recession puts pressure on the new lower middle class to the point where the legal fees of divorce cause less money to be available for the children. Separating is expensive and a court divorce is almost a luxury if the warring parties pit lawyers against each other in a long drawn-out conflict. Psychologists known in this context as “divorce coaches” and child psychologists counsel the family in preparation and the lawyers set the agenda and coach the spouses in four-way meetings.

Using the collaborative approach lawyers advise their respective clients of laws that apply to their circumstance, guide them a process of cooperative conflict to find solutions to problems, provide all disclosure and discovery, avoid using adversarial tactics, and model listening skills for each spouse so the interests of both are promoted. In this they can expedite the parting of the ways in a dignified manner, making the best of a bad situation.

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Separated? Divorce? Need a lawyer? Chose an attorney who practives Collaborative Law.

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Dunkin Donuts, Applebee's accused of discrimination
By Evelyn Holmes
September 30, 2006 – A local group fighting for immigrant rights is calling for a boycott of two nationally known companies. Dunkin Donuts and Applebee's are accused of discriminating against immigrant workers whose names don't match their social security numbers.

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On the 10th anniversary of what immigration reform advocates call stringent changes to immigration laws, supports of the legalization of the undocumented are once again speaking out — only this time, they are hoping not only to mobilize their vote, but also use their buying power to force the kind of change they want.

"The social security administration says it plans to send out 8 million no match letters," said Martino Unzuerta, Chicago Workers Collaborative.
The initial purpose of the social security administration's 'no match' letter was to credit workers unclaimed social security earnings. The agency routinely sends out 'no match' letters to a company when employees' names and social security numbers don't match possibly because of a spelling error, omission of information or a unreported name change. But immigration activists say some employers are now aggressively using the letters to fire immigrant workers.
"The Bush administration wants to give the appearance that they are cracking down on undocumented immigration and workers are an easy escape goat," said James Thindwa, Chicago Jobs with Justice.

Groups accuse several companies of the practice using 'no match' letters to immigrant workers who don't have valid social security numbers. They want the public to boycott businesses, including Applebee's and Dunkin Donuts. Neither company could be reached for comment.
Some immigration rights groups at Federal Plaza say it is no mistake there has been an increase in effort to curtail immigration reform. They have planned a day of fasting in protest of the 'no match' letters, raids, and deportations.

"It looks to me like its racism," said Emma Lozano, Pueblo Sin Fronteras.

The National Alliance for Immigration Rights wants an immediate moratorium on all workplace raids and deportations. As does Elvira Arellano — who still seeks refuge at a West Side church after being slated for deportation because she's undocumented. Her seven-year-old son, a U.S. citizen, will go to the nation's capital to try to save his mother.

"I want President Bush to stop the raid and the deportation of my mom so she can stay with me," said Saul Arellano, Elvira's son.

Those for strict control over America's borders say there has been some progress in their fight, but more must be done.
"We are gaining ground and that Americans are waking up to the problems that illegal immigration causes in our country," said Robert Klein Engler, Illinois Minuteman Project.

Saul will be accompanied by several immigration activists as well as by Congressman Luis Guitterez to Washington DC. The group plans to address the president on Tuesday.

About Author

Author Pat Boardman has discovered in discussions and through research that the fairly recent phenomenon of collaborative law to settle cases of divorce has become popular as a means to sidestep lengthy court proceedings. Lawyers who are trained in the more amicable approach are by necessity more empathetic towards spouses who may be dealing with alimony or child support after an unsuccessful separation where mediation would not be an option.

Many law firms are limiting their family law practice to collaborative divorce only for many good reasons. Many believe that collaborative practice enhances the odds for a better result as it is indicated by many cases. Collaborative divorce can be a multipart experience requiring recommendation and guidance from various perspectives if it is to be navigated soundly. But all this complexity is worth an effort because it prepares you to deal with the emotional challenges and changes reflected by divorce and offer the resources that can best assist you create a healthy changeover from marital to single life.

Collaborative divorce also insures vital safeguards for children, too. It keeps both parties well informed about the mental state and expectations of the children. Collaborative divorce helps them accept the big changes in their family structure without harming their sentiments. It assists both sides ensuring good future relationship with each other by informing both parties fully about the financial realities of your marriage and divorce in a way that eliminates pointless arguments about financial issues. It also educates you and your spouse new ways of problem solving and conflict resolution so that you develop useful skills for addressing your differences more constructively in the future.

There is a new approach is rising in the field of collaborative law, this approach is known as the Multi-Disciplinary Model. This form of collaborative divorce provides a divorce team consisting of two lawyers, two divorce coaches, a child specialist and a financial advisor to assist the couple. Multi disciplinary approach helps resolve situations in a more cost effective way then traditional two lawyer method of divorce.

The reason behind collaborative divorce does an excellent job of helping most couples pull off their best separation are simple. Collaborative divorce addresses the monetary and legal matters that must be resolved in any type of divorce, but it does so more efficiently for the reason that it provides the en suite help of three professions, not just one. The devise of collaborative divorce — with its team of professionals, its organized consideration to values, its highlighting on healthy relationships, and its focus on the future — takes into account the wide range of what actually matters to the majority of people when their marriages end. It considers not merely the spouses but persons around them who also matter to the divorcing couple and who will be both directly and indirectly affected by a good or a bad divorce like children, families, and even extended families, friends, and colleagues. It applies what we know about marriage and divorce from the realms of psychology, sociology, history, law, communication theory, conflict resolution theory, finance, and other realms in a very realistic, helpful, and tangible way.

Dissimilar from any other divorce clash solving method, collaborative divorce teams make steady use of essential information regarding how people are connected how they feel, how the sentiments influence our capability to correspond successfully and to process information, how we experience pain and loss, how we recuperate from the end of a marriage, what the children are experiencing and what they want in the divorce, and what the needs of each member of the family after the divorce are likely to be. In this way, collaborative divorce presents positive, complete, multidisciplinary expert support that answers to the real complexities of divorce as people experience it, rather than imposing an traditional, partial institutional legal point of view as the only viewpoint on a compound personal experience.

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All members of our Family Team are actively involved in the Collaborative Law practice. Collaborative lawyers and their clients sign a contract and agree not to litigate or involve the court unnecessarily. Clients and their advisers attending meetings together, akin to mediation sessions – but with both clients and their lawyers present. The key is to identify issues and solve problems. Once a settlement has been agreed, the lawyers make it binding in a Consent Order or Separation Agreement …

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Munish Dev Rathee working for Family Law Attorneys Sites. Mainly covering areas of new jersey attorneys and
Seattle divorce attorney etc.