There Is A Better Way!
Divorce affects every family and member of our society in some way or another. It particularly affects children. The statistics vary from 40 to 50% of first marriages ending in divorce; the stats for subsequent marriages are higher. The traditional litigated divorce inflames already highly emotional couples. Unresolved conflicts, fueled by miscommunication and unacknowledged powerful emotions, are the driving force behind high-conflict divorces and the high costs (both emotional and financial) that result.
Enter: Collaborative Divorce/Collaborative Law. We are a group of specially trained lawyers, mental health professionals and financial professionals that practice and promote collaborative practice for families facing divorce and other matters. The cornerstone of the approach is an agreement that the couple and the professionals sign that commits the couple to: 1) participate in good faith to reach an agreement that addresses both people’s interests and concerns; 2) agree to make full disclosure of all facts pertinent to their case; 3) communicate respectfully and constructively with each other to settle their case; and 4) agree not to use the court to resolve disputes during the collaborative law process.
This process protects children and offers couples and families a way
to restructure that is healthy and respectful, giving the family the
control of the process and the decisions.
This process is uniquely beneficial for same-sex couples/families, as
the traditional court system in Florida currently doesn’t recognize
same-sex families.
About the Author
Carolann Mazza
Florida Family Law Attorney (The Florida Bar, admitted 2001) · Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator (certified 2011, No. 25475F) · Super Lawyers, Family Law, 2022–2026
Carolann Mazza is the founder of Carolann Mazza, P.A., a non-litigation family law firm she opened in Fort Lauderdale in 2003. Practicing family law in Florida since 2001 and admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1997, she resolves divorce and family conflicts exclusively through Collaborative Divorce, mediation, and out-of-court settlement — keeping families out of court while preserving relationships, dignity, and children’s wellbeing. She serves Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties.