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Protecting What Matters Most
Protecting What Matters Most
Collaborative law is for couples that want to stay out the courtroom and avoid messy litigation. At the same time, it empowers both sides (with the help of their respective divorce attorneys) to determine the outcome of their case without leaving their fate in the hands of a third-party judge.
Yes, but the success of divorce by collaborative law depends on the agreement of both parties upfront not to litigate by trail and the acceptance by both sides that they will be required to disclose any and all necessary information. This may include financial documents, personal materials and any other information pertinent to the dissolution of marriage and division of assets.
Once your spouse and you have agreed to a collaborative divorce, you will start the negotiation process. In addition to each person’s attorney, a selection of other experts (accountants or psychotherapists, for example) may be requested present for the initial meeting(s). Depending on the complexity of your case (convoluted assets, creative child custody), the entire process may take as many as six sessions lasting two to three hours each.
To expedite the process both sides are expected to come to each negotiation session with any requested documentation and, as cliché as it sounds, an open mind. Remember, your spouse and you are compromising to avoid the cold deliberation of a trail. Concessions will have to be made.
Many couples engage in collaborative law for divorce because they do not want an impersonal body (the court) determining a deeply personal matter. Even though legal considerations may require a divorcing couple to seek legal council (an attorney), this does not mean they are incapable of reaching an amicable agreement of terms.
Less expensive – Assuming you are able to agree upon and honor the terms of your negotiation, you will end up spending considerably less than the amount required for full-blown courtroom divorce proceedings.
Additional time (thoroughness) – If you want to ‘get it over with as soon as possible’ then going to court may be your better option. However, if you are willing to take time to participate and work through the process, you will almost always be more satisfied with the outcome.
Privacy – There are few situations less intimate than a courtroom. Nobody enjoys having their private grievances aired in a public setting—in front a judge nonetheless. The collaborative divorce process takes place behind closed doors and involves only the people who need to be involved.
The Evans Family Law Group has been practicing Family Law in Austin and surrounding municipalities for over 17 years. Our divorce attorneys are large supporters of collaborative law. It has been our experience that couples who decide on and are successful in a collaborative divorce exit their marriage on more amicable of terms. This might not be something you think you are concerned with right now, however, many people will look back on a messy divorce with regret.
Contact our Austin Law Office today to find out more about collaborative divorce and Family Law.
James W. Evans is a board-certified family law attorney and the founder of Evans Family Law Group. With over 25 years of experience, he has built a reputation as a trusted advocate for Texas families navigating divorce, custody, and complex family law matters.
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Client Reviews
2 months ago 
I had a great experience working with Jimmy Evans on my divorce case. He provided excellent counsel and always focused on getting me the best results. He was accommodating and made sure I understood each step of the process. His paralegal, Dina, was also wonderful! She kept communication clear and timely, and I could always count on her for quick updates and answers. The firm as a whole was efficient, professional, and supportive, which made a difficult process much easier to navigate. I highly recommend Jimmy Evans and his team.
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Evans Family Law has been wonderful to work with. I am grateful that I found them and hired them for my legal needs!
He took the time to talk to me and answer questions. I would recommend Jimmy to anyone seeking help with their legal needs.
Thank you Evans Family Law!
I had a great experience with Evans Family Law Group! Their legal team took time to clearly answer my questions and make sure I knew what was going on with my case. They were super easy to work with and knew exactly how to handle all the various obstacles that popped up over the course of my divorce. I am very happy I worked with them and would absolutely recommend them to anyone else!
The Evans Family Law Group was patient with me, protected my interests, and kept me inline. They responded in a timely fashion and provided updates with each step along the divorce process. Their forethought in decree language saved me.
Evans Family Law Group was the first business that didn’t quote me an outrageous number while also telling me that I may need to pay more later. Jimmy gave me a flat rate that was significantly lower than the multiple other firms I called prior. He was also very quick with communication and even sent a description of every form he sent so I would understand the whole process better. Dina was also incredible as she as she was able to notarize the forms remotely and kept me updated through every step of the process. To my surprise, Jimmy and Dina were able to make this process so smooth and simple and I cannot be more grateful. Thank you both very much!
Great communication and very empathetic!
I had a great experience working with James Evans. He was extremely responsive, easy to work with, and able to meet my tight timeline without sacrificing quality. I appreciated his clear communication and attention to detail throughout the process.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Evans Family Law firm for working with me on my extended divorce process. Giving special attention to Ms. Caitlin McGregor. Always the consummate professional. I truly felt well represented with not only her knowledge of family law but she took time to be sure I felt heard. She always kept me well informed, which helped tremendously with the anxiety that came along with the seemingly endless divorce.
She showed real concern which kept me on a positive note in what has been a very dark time for me and proved to be a great negotiator on my behalf. Not to forget she was also working with an awesome team of paralegals and professionals. Thank you all for your hard work and persistence in this case.
I had a great experience working with Jimmy Evans on my divorce case. He provided excellent counsel and always focused on getting me the best results. He was accommodating and made sure I understood each step of the process. His paralegal, Dina, was also wonderful! She kept communication clear and timely, and I could always count on her for quick updates and answers.
I have had an excellent experience with the staff of Evans Family Law. They have all been very friendly and efficient with my case, and have always been honest and accountable in all situations. I would employ them again for any family law needs I may have. I’m very pleased with their work.
Jimmy has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law, extensive experience with a wide range of cases, and as a result is someone I could completely trust to know what he was doing. He was always willing to explain why certain issues that were under dispute were/were not likely to be upheld by a judge and gave me a very honest sense of what to expect before a judge, with respect to anything I asked him.
He took the time to talk to me and answer questions, and was an ethical advocate who was clearly seeking the best outcome for the children. Rarely do I post reviews, but I chose him based on ones I read by people equally unfamiliar and scared by family law, divorce, and custody as I was; and he was a gem in guiding us through a difficult time. I’m so grateful to have found him, and recommend him as one of the most ethical and professional people I’ve ever worked with.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Attorney James Evans, who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a family law attorney.
At Evans Family Law Group, we combine our in-depth knowledge, strategic approach, and commitment to you to achieve optimal results.
Effective in and out of the courtroom with 17 years in practice and over 100 jury trials to our credit.
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