Armata & Davis, LLC

Collaborative Practice

Collaborative Practice promotes respect and keeps spouses in control of the process, not judges.

"Collaborative Practice puts the kids first, All the decisions are what we made - not the lawyers or the judges. It gave us control over the outcome of our divorce."

- Collaborative client

"I tell people that you can choose collaborative or spend $50,000 and a lot of sleepless nights on a traditional divorce because Collaborative Practice expedites the process. The normal ritual is to demoralize the other party. Collaborative builds trust and finds closure."

- Collaborative client

Recognized as leaders in Collaborative Practice and managing conflict:

Both Barry Armata and Jennifer Davis are recognized leaders in collaborative practice and managing conflict. They believe that a thoughtful, reasoned settlement is always better and healthier for their clients than a costly, adversarial trial. Their goal is to help clients identify and achieve what is important to them so they can move forward with their life.

A Different Way To Divorce

Going through a divorce doesn't automatically mean having to endure the legal turmoil that is often associated with it. You now have another choice: Collaborative Practice. Developed as an alternative to traditional, litigated divorce, Collaborative Practice is a new option for divorcing couples to resolve their disputes respectfully and privately without going to court. It offers couples a humane, solutions-based approach to ending a relationship.

It differs from the traditional process because Collaborative Practice promotes respect and keeps control of the process between the spouses, not with a judge. Because clients agree not to go to court, the process is more open and less adversarial. The goal is to enhance communication throughout the process and lay the foundation for a healthier relationship during, and after, the divorce.

Collaborative Practice is based on three principles:

1. The parties and their attorneys pledge in writing not to go to court.
2. Both spouses engage in an honest exchange of information.
3. Each solution takes into account the highest priorities of both spouses and their children.

How Does Collaborative Practice Work?

The goal of collaborative practice is to come to a mutually acceptable, negotiated settlement between two parties without the threat of going to court. In this practice, each of the parties retains their own collaborative attorney who will gather information, provide education on rights, responsibilities and options, and negotiate at their side, on their behalf.
At the center of collaborative practice are the needs of the entire family, especially the children's needs. Within a collaborative negotiation, conflict is kept to a minimum so all family members can move forward positively with their lives.

Collaborative practice is an excellent choice when each party prefers to have his or her own independent attorney guide them through the legal process. If the participants ultimately are unable to agree, the collaborative attorneys withdraw and the parties transition to litigation attorneys who will take the matter to court.

The Collaborative Lawyer - Specially Trained to Serve You Best

All collaborative attorneys have received specialized training in the area of collaborative law. The firm of Armata & Davis, LLC has taken its training to a higher level. Both Barry and Jennifer have attended advanced training seminars as well as specialized seminars in the areas of problem-solving, negotiating through impasse and active listening. Both are highly skilled at really hearing what a client's concerns are and then transitioning those concerns toward solution.

The Collaborative Team - Centered On You

To move on creatively and effectively, there are times when working with other professionals can be helpful and can facilitate coming to an agreement. Child specialists work with parents to create a parenting plan that works best for the children. Financial specialists help gather, analyze and interpret financial information. Valuation consultants provide neutral valuations of assets, such as real estate or pensions. Vocational consultants can provide information regarding training, education and employment opportunities. These experts are part of your collaborative team. They are jointly hired by you and your spouse and they are neutral advisors to you both, offering you information and guidance. They are selected by your collaborative attorneys because they understand their role in the collaborative process - they are not hired as expert witnesses for future litigation but as advisors to the entire team. Another important member of the collaborative team is the divorce coach. Unlike a traditional therapist who speaks only with a client , a divorce coach assists the individual client to develop communication tools and manage difficult emotions that arise due to the divorce. Your coach is well-aware of the divorce process and where you are in it, and tailors their guidance to get you through that process supportively and effectively.

Benefits of Collaborative Practice

• Better for your children. Children are the focus of the process, alleviating potential trauma that sometimes lasts for generations. Decisions for your children are being made by the two people in the world who know them the best and love them the most - their parents.



• You remain in control. Decision making is directly in the hands of the spouses involved in divorce rather than the hands of a third party using a "one size fits all" directive.



• You enjoy confidentiality. Problems and financial information are kept private.



• Solutions are mutually beneficial. The collaborative process recognizes and understands each client's needs, interests, concerns and goals, while allowing both parties to be heard throughout the duration.



• Focus on the future. Collaboration changes the notion of divorce from adversarial and win/lose to a problem-solving constructive process. The communication tools learned in the collaborative process will serve the couple for years to come.

More information on Collaborative Practice

For more information on Collaborative Practice go to www.collaborativepractice.com and www.collaborative-divorce.com

Please contact us to learn more about Collaborative Practice and to schedule a consultation.
Our telephone number is 860-589-4417 or you may reach us online.

Client Comments

"Collaborative law is different, it was not always about me, I had to be reminded that it was about what was important to me, the kids. Whereas the traditional model seems to breed animosity and the nature promotes mine verses yours. I feel so blessed that I knew about collaborative law and Armata & Davis, someone was looking after me. I take pride to say, I did it right. "

"In the collaborative process, the lawyers would help us focus on our most important goals anytime we would lose site of original goals."

"Collaborative Practice is an approach that puts the kid first. All the decisions were made by us not the lawyers or a judge… with our lawyers guidance we made all the decisions about our lives and out children."

"Barry made an extremely difficult situation humane. The collaborative process was respectful and focused on problem solving and the best interest of the children… it was not about fighting."