DODging DiVOrCe : COLLABOrATiVe LiFe pLAnning
Collaborative law Section Chairs : Cory Brandfon – Harris Hunt & Derr , PA & Shannon Green – Westbay CPAs
We are all interested in new ways to grow our potential client bases . Sales funnel emails and webinars and videos targeting us for marketingrelated services flood our inboxes . “ Delete …“, “ delete …”, “ delete ….”
But many of us are solo and small firm practitioners , with no experience in marketing . How many of you out there already practice “ door law ”? (“ I ’ ll take anything that walks through that door .”) Or “ rent law ”? (“ Anything that pays the rent .”) We spend tons of time struggling to be expert at everything , when we could expand our favorite service line instead , and still stay in our wheelhouse .
How , you ask ? I answer … “ Augment your collaborative services .”
Most of us spend our careers solving problems after they ’ ve happened and we ’ re good at that . But estate planning attorneys don ’ t do that , do they ? ( In fact , I know several who refer out anything probate that walks in the door .) So , instead of focusing only on divorce and paternity matters , why don ’ t we serve families before financial and other stresses shatter their relationships ? You can facilitate your clients ’ collaborative , constructive creation of written agreements that are designed to anticipate , manage , and thereby
avoid the conflicts that life ’ s traumas might cause between ( or among ) them . I call it Collaborative Life Planning (“ CLP ”).
What is CLP ? If you ’ ve practiced family law for more than a short time , you ’ ve received the call from a previously divorced client who wants a prenup , and doesn ’ t know how to introduce the subject to his intended spouse . Or another who suggested it and the partner has now threatened to call off the wedding . It was for these clients that I first offered CLP , instead of those dreaded “ prenup ” services . And it took off from there . The most common cause of a family breakup is the distress , often financial , caused by some traumatic life event . Consider the typical situations that trigger divorce and other splits . Did Junior boomerang home after college ( or during his litigated divorce )? Did Dad become infirm ? Did he move in with you ? Was your partner diagnosed with a lifechanging disorder ? Were your six-year-old ’ s symptoms finally identified as juvenile diabetes ? Did your husband finally retire after a lifetime of working 12-hour-days while you cared for the kids ? And retired life isn ’ t what you expected ?
CLp fosters an environment in which families can proactively protect their connections with each other when “ life happens .”
CLP fosters an environment in which families can proactively protect their connections with each other when “ life happens .” The result is a written document that memorializes their reasonable expectations and agreed-upon solutions in achievable steps . Did Dad agree to change Grandpa ’ s bedpans ? Did Mom agree to pay the nurse ? Did Junior agree to pay the gas bill every month ?
“ Preparation is key .” Apply your collaborative talents to facilitate your clients ’ negotiation of agreements designed to manage these stressful events before they shatter relationships and cause angst , illness , and , yes , ultimately , divorce . Add this service to your toolbox and answer the specific and unique needs of your clients ’ families as a CLP team member . 1 n
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For an example of services provided as part of Collaborative Life Planning , visit https :// openpalmlaw . com / collaborative-lifeplanning /.
Author : Joryn Jenkins – Open Palm Law
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