Attorneys Reducing Divorce Expenses And Conflicts Through Alternative Dispute Resolution

Litigating a divorce can be both emotionally exhausting and financially draining. Not only that, when elements of your divorce go before a judge, you relinquish control over the outcome. In other words, the judge will ultimately decide what happens. In some circumstances, litigation is the best and only choice if the parties cannot come to an agreement or if a substantially large amount of assets is involved, but the process is contentious, expensive, time-consuming and stressful.

Thankfully, there are other options available. You can retain significant control over your divorce by utilizing one of several alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, including family law arbitration, mediation and collaborative law. ADR processes emphasize working amicably through differences and maintaining civil communications. Our alternative dispute resolution lawyers at Cipriano Law Offices, P.C., are trained and highly experienced in the various ADR methods. They have the knowledge, tools and temperament to help you divorce more peacefully and cooperatively.

The Many Benefits Of Alternative Dispute Resolution In New Jersey

Are you wondering why ADR is a positive tool during a divorce? ADR can provide you with solutions for a wide range of issues, including:

Coming to the table with an assumption of goodwill instead of animosity can greatly reduce tensions, not to mention costs. In fact, reduced cost is one of the major reasons that people can benefit from ADR. And when you do not spend extensive amounts of money on lawyers and court costs, you can save that money for yourself, your children or other expenses you will face in the future.

Courts Can Be Slow – ADR Allows You To Skip The Wait

In New Jersey, many courts have judicial shortages, and trials are being delayed. With the ongoing shortage of judges, pursuing an alternative dispute resolution method like mediation or collaborative law can help ensure that your divorce stays on track and doesn’t get lost in a sea of family law conflicts awaiting their day in court. Firm founder Melissa Cipriano is a certified mediator and has been trained in collaborative law. Similarly, divorce lawyer Bart Lombardo is also a certified mediator.

Ms. Cipriano is a member of the New Jersey Collaborative Law Group, and she is on the executive board of that group. She also has an MBA, which gives her an edge in resolving complex financial disputes through negotiations that involve astute financial decision-making.

In Collaborative Divorce, Spouses Are Colleagues, Not Adversaries

If you are resolving your divorce through collaborative law, you will still retain a lawyer, but you will not go to court. You and your spouse will each hire a collaborative law attorney. Your respective lawyers do not serve as adversaries, but rather colleagues helping move you toward the goal of resolving your divorce with as little damage to your family and your finances as possible. Attorney Melissa Cipriano is a member of the New Jersey Collaborative Law Group.

Even the physical setup of collaborative law reflects this attitude. Rather than face off against each other, spouses sit next to each other at the table. Across from them sit their attorneys, who are also sitting next to each other. Attorneys, appraisers, psychologists and others who may be assisting with various aspects of the divorce are all retained jointly. Throughout the collaborative law process, our alternative dispute resolution lawyers treat the divorcing couple as a family instead of warring factions.

This can be particularly helpful for couples who have children and will still need to interact with each other after the divorce. Rather than wait indefinitely for your case to go before an overburdened judge who may not have had time to read all of your papers, collaborative law allows for a comprehensive, evenhanded approach to your own schedule. Keeping costs down and emotions in control is a major benefit that can limit conflict in the future.

ADR Attorneys Offering Guidance In All Aspects Of New Jersey Family Law Arbitration

Family law arbitration is a powerful alternative to traditional courtroom litigation proceedings. New Jersey allows parties facing complex child custody and family law disputes to choose to resolve their disagreements through binding arbitration. In this case, “binding” means that the decisions made by the arbitrator are enforceable and cannot be appealed.

This process often provides a more cost-effective and timely dispute resolution process for family law disputes, compared to courtroom litigation. Moreover, arbitration for family disputes may also provide the parties with more privacy than traditional family court processes. Family court records in New Jersey are generally public documents unless otherwise sealed by the judge in family court.

Our legal team represents individuals before third-party neutral arbitrators to resolve family court problems. Additionally, as a full-service family law firm, Cipriano Law Offices, P.C., in West Caldwell, provides family law arbitration neutral services to couples facing family law problems. Couples and their lawyers may reach out to our firm when seeking a skilled family law arbitrator.

Melissa Cipriano Serves As An Impartial And Knowledgeable Neutral In New Jersey Family Law Arbitration

Our founding lawyer, Melissa Cipriano, serves as a third-party neutral in binding arbitration proceedings. She is highly skilled in New Jersey family law, and as a neutral, she draws on her substantial courtroom and family law litigation experience to render fair, impartial and discreet decisions in family law arbitration proceedings. In addition to her experience as a litigator in family court, Ms. Cipriano serves as a family law mediator and economic mediator; she also has substantial experience as a parenting coordinator.

These credentials help to inform her overall understanding of family law in New Jersey. The depth and breadth of her experience in matrimonial law are invaluable to parties seeking to resolve family law issues effectively through an alternative to the traditional family court litigation process.

Discuss Your Legal Options With An Alternative Dispute Resolution Lawyer Today

From our office in West Caldwell, Cipriano Law Offices, P.C., serves clients in Essex County and throughout Northern New Jersey. Don’t let the overloaded court system prevent you from going forward with your divorce. You can save money, stay on schedule and reduce animosity by utilizing the ADR method that works best for you.

Can’t decide on collaborative law vs mediation? Want to learn more about binding arbitration? The best way to explore your options is by scheduling an initial consultation with a knowledgeable ADR lawyer. To get started, just send us an email or call 973-852-3346.