Is Collaborative Law or Mediation in Child Custody Right for You

Having an attorney with the resources and knowledge to give you the best representation is vital to your interest and the interest of your family.  You also want to make sure they will exhaust all avenues and be willing to research, pursue and implement strategies to provide the best possible outcome. While there are many benefits to collaborative law and mediation, the process chosen should be carefully considered.  Each divorce, and each family, has its own unique set of facts that may make collaborative law or mediation not possible or practical.

Many divorcing parents find collaborative law or the mediation process a better fit for the parents and provide a better result for their children.  This can be a great way to handle your case if you believe you and your spouse can work together. It also allows for each party to take ownership in the ultimate outcome.  The alternative is to have a judge, who, even if presented with all of the pertinent facts, will never know the children or their individual needs as well as the parents, make the decisions for the parents.  Most parents can agree, even if they cannot agree upon anything else, that having someone else make important decisions for their children is never as good as being able to have a say in those decisions, even if the result is not ultimately what they wanted.

It may not work in each case, but a more collaborative approach to custody and parenting time may be beneficial not only to the children but also to the parents.  The goal is to help the parents reach an agreement between themselves, on terms they are comfortable with while keeping the children out of the middle as much as possible.

Rob McAngus, Partner with Verner Brumley Parker, P.C., is Board Certified in family Law and his practice is devoted primarily to family law, including high conflict divorce, custody cases, and complex property issues. In addition to being selected on the Board of Directors for the Family Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association; he values your priorities as a parent and works with you to achieve the goals that will help transition your family to a new normal.  As both an adopted child and a member of a blended family, Rob can provide a unique perspective in the practice of family law.

Rob has been recognized in Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2016 through 2019, and recently The National Advocates recognized Rob as one of the Top 40 Under 40.  He can be reached by calling 214.526.5234 or email at rmcangus@vernerbrumley.com.