Libertyville, Illinois Collaborative Law Attorney

Download our Collaborative Divorce Guide

If you have made the decision to divorce your spouse, you must make another decision: Which process will you choose to create a workable future for you and your children? I encourage you to consider the many benefits of collaborative law.

The major drawbacks – and sometimes even the horrors – of litigating a divorce are widely known. Even family court judges are advising spouses to consider an alternative dispute resolution, such as Collaborative Divorce, to settle their issues in a fair, cost-effective and mutually-acceptable manner.

A Collaborative Divorce Pioneer

As one of the founding Officers of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois, I have the experience, knowledge, insight and compassion to help you choose and benefit from Collaborative Divorce. I am active in the Collaborative Law community of professionals. I am also a fellow of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois, meeting and exceeding the fellowship qualifications.

In my many years of experience, clients who choose Collaborative Divorce are generally satisfied that they came to sensible solutions, and saved themselves a great deal of stress, time and money in the process.

What is collaborative law?

Collaborative law is a form of dispute resolution that is used to help divorcing couples reach amicable, workable and mutual divorce settlement agreements. Each person is represented by an attorney who is trained in collaborative law. The attorneys and divorcing parties sign a participation agreement. The participation agreement provides that both parties will work with one another in good faith and with total disclosure of all pertinent matters. It further provides that neither party will take matters to court or threaten to go to court as a negotiation tactic. Typically, the only use of the court is for the brief (approximately five minutes) uncontested hearing, in which the judge signs the settlement agreement.

The Many Benefits of Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Divorce honors the role of self determination in divorce, and empowers couples to make their own decisions. It allows spouses to engage in reasonable, practical problem solving, and avoid a hurtful and unproductive adversarial process. At the same time, a Collaborative Divorce resolution doesn’t require that spouses get along famously. Many spouses can and do enter the process with strongly held differences, and work with the process to achieve a strong and acceptable outcome that can withstand the test of time.”

A Problem-Solving Approach That Benefits Both Parties

I see divorce as a problem-solving challenge that rarely involves complicated legal issues. People feel reassured when they realize that making Collaborative Divorce work is a matter of plain old problem-solving. Many couples who try to resolve issues in a legal system designed to achieve adjudication, often leave with their conflict unresolved. Litigation is a crude implement for family issues. The last thing you need when you divorce is a lawsuit.

Helping Clients Resolve High-Conflict Divorces

Some people think the Collaborative Divorce process doesn’t work for high-conflict cases, but my experience proves otherwise. If a high-conflict case goes to court, the parties can expect a frustrating emotional and financial struggle of one or more years with ultimately little to show for it. They can bypass that through Collaborative Divorce. Frankly, many high-conflict divorce clients regret that they didn’t try Collaborative Divorce much earlier.

If you are interested in learning more about how I can help you reach a workable and amicable divorce agreement through collaborative law? Contact me today to arrange your consultation.

Jerald A. Kessler
14047 Petronella Drive, Suite 202B
Libertyville, Illinois 60048
Map and directions
Phone: 847-367-4500
Fax: 847-367-9424

Jerald A. Kessler is an experienced collaborative divorce attorney and a professional mediator representing clients in divorce and other matters. With a law firm located in Libertyville, Illinois, he represents clients throughout North Suburban Chicago and Lake County. Mr. Kessler has offices in Libertyville (by Lambs Farm and Northfield, on Frontage Road).