Practice Areas/Collaborative Law

Collaborative Law

Divorce Doesn't Have to Be War.

A non-adversarial, private alternative to litigation for families seeking respectful resolution of divorce and family law matters.

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How We Help

Collaborative law represents a fundamentally different approach to resolving family disputes — one built on respect, transparency, and cooperation rather than conflict. At Stover McGlaughlin, attorney Tonia Torquato is a trained collaborative professional dedicated to helping families find better outcomes outside of court.

In collaborative law, you and your attorney commit in writing to resolve your matter without going to court. Both parties work together — with their attorneys and potentially other specialists like mediators, child specialists, and financial advisors — to reach agreements that genuinely work for everyone involved. The result: private, dignified resolutions that protect children's wellbeing and reduce the emotional and financial cost of separation.

Services We Offer

Collaborative divorce
Collaborative property and asset division
Parenting plans through collaborative process
Post-divorce collaborative modifications
Coordination with financial advisors and child specialists
Mediation support

Frequently Asked Questions

What is collaborative law and how does it differ from traditional divorce?
In traditional divorce litigation, each party's attorney advocates adversarially, and a judge makes final decisions. In collaborative law, both parties commit in writing to resolve all issues without going to court. Attorneys advise and facilitate rather than fight, and the parties make the decisions — resulting in outcomes that often work better for everyone, especially children.
What happens if the collaborative process breaks down?
If the parties cannot reach agreement, both attorneys must withdraw from the case, and new attorneys must be retained for litigation. This provision encourages everyone to work in good faith toward resolution.
Is collaborative law less expensive than traditional divorce?
In most cases, yes. Collaborative processes typically resolve faster and with less conflict than litigation, reducing total legal fees and the emotional costs that can affect professional and family life during an extended court battle.