Divorce Attorneys – Romanowski Law Offices

While some couples’ divorces are destined for litigation, in many situations, spouses can successfully resolve their differences without getting adversarial in the courtroom. New Jersey law favors use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in opposite-sex and same-sex divorces, and ADR is generally more efficient – and can be significantly less costly – than going to court. In addition, rather than leaving your future in the hands of a judge, ADR allows you and your spouse to make your own decisions about who gets what.

At Romanowski Law Offices, we provide experienced representation for ADR divorces. We have helped numerous clients use mediation and arbitration to amicably dissolve their marriages, and have pioneered the concepts of Collaborative Divorce and Progressive Divorce. If you and your spouse are willing to use the process to help overcome your differences and reach an agreement on the primary aspects of your divorce, ADR may be the best option for you. Read more in our ADR FAQs.

Mediation and Arbitration

“Alternative dispute resolution” is a general term that encompasses mediation and arbitration. Each of these forms of ADR uses different methods and provides different benefits, but they share the common purpose of efficiently resolving the parties’ differences without resorting to presenting arguments in front of a judge. At Romanowski Law Offices, we can help you evaluate your options and then pursue the resolution strategy that best fits the circumstances of your divorce.

Mediation

Mediation is a form of ADR that allows spouses to make their own decisions with the help of a third-party mediator. The mediator plays a neutral role, not advocating for either spouse but instead helping the parties see each other’s points of view and identifying opportunities for compromise that serve both of their respective goals. Divorce mediators provide expert guidance to help couples make their own decisions about:

Since the parties are directly involved in the final outcome, mediation is often more satisfying than traditional litigation, and the agreed-upon resolution tends to better serve both parties’ desires over a longer period of time. Read more about using mediation to resolve your divorce.

Arbitration

You can think of arbitration as being in between mediation and litigation. With arbitration, you do not have to deal with the strictures of litigation, but you still have a neutral third-party (the arbitrator) who makes a final decision based upon the evidence and arguments presented. Arbitration is a good option for couples who may be unable to come to terms through mediation, but still prefer to avoid the formalities, strict scheduling, and expense of going to court. Read more about the benefits of arbitration in divorce.

Collaborative Divorce

In a collaborative divorce, with the help of their attorneys, the spouses commit to reaching a mutually acceptable resolution without court intervention. The attorneys and spouses work as a team to come to terms on property division, support, child-related issues, and any other matters involved in the dissolution of the marriage. The spouses’ attorneys truly work as advocates rather than “adversaries” to help drive positive discussions and guide the parties toward an amicable result. Curtis Romanowski is the founder of the collaborative divorce method.  Read more about the process of collaborative divorce.

Progressive Divorce

Curtis Romanowski has also pioneered the practice of Progressive Divorce. Progressive Divorce is a staged, or incremental, approach to family law. It focuses on the outcome and is based upon the parties’ individual levels of ability and willingness to participate in the process. A Progressive Divorce moves through four distinct phases:

  • Value-Added Divorce Facilitation
  • Trial Collaboration
  • Recusal Pact
  • Conclusion

Progressive Divorce employs a definite, well-articulated consulting methodology in order to help the spouses overcome obstacles to resolving their differences. Following the initial stage where the parties work with a Reconciliationist to make as much progress as possible, the spouses then transition to working with their respective attorneys and jointly-retained experts in order to tackle complex issues such as property division and support. Once they are reasonably confident that the process will succeed, the spouses may then enter into a recusal pact in order to discourage abandonment of their progress in favor of going to court. In the end, the parties execute a settlement agreement that allows them to move on to the next phases of their lives. Read more about the Progressive Divorce process.

Discuss Your Options with a Divorce Lawyer at Romanowski Law Offices

If you are considering filing for divorce, it is worth planning ahead and considering your options with ADR. To schedule an expert consultation with a divorce lawyer at our offices in Freehold, New Jersey, call (732) 603-8585 or contact Romanowski Law Offices online today.