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Collaborative Law

From the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas

Divorce does not have to be destructive.

While it is not what anyone hopes for, some couples will find that a divorce is necessary.  But is the emotional and financial strain necessary, too? Can couples in Texas find a “better” divorce?

You and your spouse can choose a more family-friendly, financially friendly and less destructive method of divorcing.   In Texas, this option is called Collaborative Law.  Learn how Collaborative Law can help you have a smarter Texas divorce.

Find out more: https://collaborativedivorcetexas.com/

Mediation

The Texas Association of Mediators is a professional organization whose goals are to promote and encourage the use of mediation, promote cooperation and communication among organizations and individuals that affect Alternative Dispute Resolution, promote the ethical practice of mediation, and to sponsor and promote professional development for mediators. Find out more athttp://www.txmediator.org/index.php

Locally we have a number of Mediation Centers. Check out:

– Dallas County’s Dispute Mediation Services

– Denton County’s ADR Program

– Tarrant County’s Dispute Resolution Services

Parent Education

While these resources originate outside of Texas they provide tools useful to parents in our state as they examine the various options available in crafting parenting plans:

– The Arizona Judicial Branch’s “Planning for Parenting Time”

– The Colorado Center for Divorce Mediation’s “Child Custody Parenting Plan Options”

– The Massachusetts Chapter of AFCC’s “Plan for Shared Parenting”

Association Of Family And Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Pamphlets

A Guide for Joint Custody and Shared Parenting
http://www.afccnet.org/resourcecenter/resourcesforfamilies/pamphletinformation/categoryid/1/productid/3

Making your Parenting Plan Work
http://www.afccnet.org/resourcecenter/resourcesforfamilies/pamphletinformation/categoryid/1/productid/6

Understanding Your Child’s Needs: Information for Never-Married Parents
http://www.afccnet.org/resourcecenter/resourcesforfamilies/pamphletinformation/categoryid/1/productid/4

Parents Are Forever
http://www.afccnet.org/resourcecenter/resourcesforfamilies/pamphletinformation/categoryid/1/productid/8

FAQs Parents Ask about Separation, Divorce and Child Custody
http://www.afccnet.org/resourcecenter/resourcesforfamilies/pamphletinformation/cate

Sample Orders For Services

These sample orders are adapted from various court administrators or are generic examples that were provided to us by area professionals:\

Therapy

– Child Therapy from Families In Transition Professionals Workgroup

– Individual Adult Therapy from Families In Transition Professionals Workgroup

– Sample order for therapy with multiple persons (parent-child issues, reunification, co-parenting, etc.)

Evaluation

– Sample Adoptive (Pre and Post combined) Evaluation Order from Families In Transition Professionals Workgroup

– Child Custody Evaluation from Families In Transition Professionals Workgroup (based on the Denton County Standing Order)

– Sample order for Psychological Evaluation

– Sample Order for Brief Focused Assessment

Other

– Agreed Confidentiality Order (Health Information) from Melinda Eitzen

– Mental Health Proessional appointed as Guardian Ad Litem from Families In Transition Professionals Workgroup

– Non-professional visit supervisor’s statement of responsibility from the Tarrant County Domestic Relations Office

– Parenting Facilitation from Families In Transition Professionals Workgroup

– Supervised visitation from Forensic Counseling Services

Interdisciplinary Professional Associations

– Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – an interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict.

AFCC brings together members of multiple disciplines in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, from all over the world. As a nonprofit professional association, AFCC is unique because members do not share a common profession. Instead, AFCC members share a strong commitment to education, innovation and collaboration in order to benefit communities, empower families and promote a healthy future for children.

– The Collaborative Law Institute of Texas – The primary goal of the Institute is to create a culture in which Collaborative Law is the prevailing process for the resolution of family law matters.

The Collaborative Law Institute of Texas, Inc. is a non-profit organization. Their mission is to help families resolve conflict in a less destructive way.

– North Texas Families in Transition Professional Workgroup – FIT is the professional workgroup which has assisted in the creation of this site. It is an invitation-only peer support group for many of the DFW area providers who specialize in family court issues and they work on various projects to help increase awareness of professional best practices for services to parents and children experiencing changes in their family structure.

Service-Specific Professional Associations

– The Supervised Visitation Network

– The Texas Association of Mediators

– The Texas Association of Parent Educators