Collaborative Law in the area of Family Law provides a positive context in which to address the often difficult emotions and issues that arise during the divorce process without resorting to litigation. The Collaborative Law dispute resolution model is one in which both parties retain separate, specially-trained lawyers whose only job is to help them settle the dispute. If the lawyers do not succeed in helping the clients resolve the problem, the lawyers are prohibited (by the terms of their contract or participation agreement) from representing either client in traditional divorce litigation.
All participants agree to work together respectfully, honestly, and in good faith to try to find solutions to the legitimate needs of both parties so that both sides “win” rather than simply compromise to “get it done.” Both parties also agree not to go to court without an agreement in place, or even threaten to do so. In fact, if a party threatens litigation, the Collaborative Law process terminates and both lawyers are disqualified from any further involvement in the case.
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Lowell Divorce Attorneys – Collaborative Law
August 13th, 2010If you are interested in a cooperative divorce process that enables you to resolve differences with your spouse contact a Massachusetts collaborative law attorney today at Berid & Schutzbank for a confidential consultation.
The Massachusetts Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Collaborative Law attorneys of Berid & Schutzbank provide divorce mediation and Collaborative Law services to all of Middlesex County, Essex County, Worcester County, and the Merrimack Valley region including Andover, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, North Andover, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Westford, and Wilmington, Massachusetts.
June 30th, 2010The Lowell MA lawyers at Berid & Schutzbank concentrate on family law and divorce mediation.
We concentrate on all family law matters such as divorce, divorce mediation, child custody, child support, and domestic assault & battery, and restraining orders. The attorneys of Berid & Schutzbank have practiced law in Massachusetts for over thirty years and serve all of Middlesex County, Essex County, Worcester County, and the Merrimack Valley region including Andover, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, North Andover, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Westford, and Wilmington, Massachusetts.
Welcome – Our First Blog Entry
June 30th, 2010Welcome – This is Berid & Schutzbank’s first blog entry.
We are attorneys in Lowell, Massachusetts. We serve the Greater Lowell, Massachusetts area and focus on Massachusetts family law matters such as divorce, divorce mediation, child custody, child support, elder law, as well as criminal defense charges involving domestic assault & battery, restraining orders, drunk driving, motor vehicle and traffic offenses, and assault & battery. The attorneys of Berid & Schutzbank have practiced law in Massachusetts for over thirty years and serve all of Middlesex County, Essex County, Worcester County, and the Merrimack Valley region including Andover, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, North Andover, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Westford, and Wilmington, Massachusetts.
June 7th, 2010Divorce and Custody and Child Support
November 3rd, 2009The People’s Law School
November 3, 2009 – 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Panel Discussion: Divorce and Custody and Child Support
Panelists: Judge Maryanne Sahagian, Attorneys Maxa Berid, Karen Levitt, and Margaret Reily
Location: Federal Building, Assembly Hall 50, Kearney Square, Lowell, MA
Contact the Berid & Schutzbank if you have any questions about an upcomming event.
Lowell Team Wins National Mock Trial Competition
June 7th, 2009The following is not legal advice. It is information concerning the steps involved in various legal matters. If you need legal advice about your specific case or situation, please contact us to set up a low cost consultation.
Lowell Team Wins National Mock Trial Competition
Berid & Schutzbank is proud to have assisted the Greater Lowell Law Explorers Mock Trial Team in the annual Learning for Life National Mock Trial Tournament. Berid & Schutzbank congratulates the team on taking first place at the tournament, recently held at the American University in Washington, D. C. on Saturday, July 25th.
The Dissolution of Marriage – April 2007
April 7th, 2007The following is not legal advice. It is information concerning the steps involved in various legal matters. If you need legal advice about your specific case or situation, please contact us to set up a low cost consultation.
The Dissolution of a Marriage
In Massachusetts divorce is initiated either by the filing of a Joint Petition for Divorce (where the parties have reached a settlement in advance of filing) or by filing a Complaint for Divorce either claiming fault or no fault grounds. It is not necessary to show that your spouse has caused the divorce. Most divorces are filed on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown, commonly called no fault. While some divorces are contested, (no agreement) on issues of property, support, etc., few are actually contested on the grounds for the divorce itself. The grounds for the divorce do not necessarily determine how the property will be divided or how much support will be awarded, although under extreme circumstances, fault and wrongful conduct can have an impact on the final outcome.
The time it takes to complete a divorce, depends on how quickly both husband and wife can agree to how to handle custody of your children and child support, and the division of all of your property. If you can not agree and need to go to court to have a Judge decide the issues your divorce will take considerably longer then if, with the assistance of counsel or through mediation, reach an agreement prior to filing or in advance of any trial date.
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