Divorce & Family Law

Resolution as You Choose: Mediation, Collaborative Practice, Litigation

How Do I Begin the Divorce Process and Division of Assets?

JFCC favors peaceful resolutions where both parties are working together to avoid costly legal fees, protect their children, and negotiate financial accounts in a timely and fair manner. In these cases, JFCC serves as the Financial Neutral or Professional Mediator. However, in the event that mutual agreements cannot be formed between you and your spouse, JFCC will work as a financial expert alongside your divorce attorney to prepare business valuations and other financial reports affecting the settlement of your divorce. 
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Which Situation and Outcome Best Applies to You?

Here is a quick overview on what clients are looking for and how JFCC supports financial resolution in divorce. As every relationship and situation is different, JFCC will work with you to help you decide which option best suits your financial and overall needs. Learn and compare the differences between each option: Mediation, Collaborative Practice, or Divorce Litigation.

Is Divorce Mediation For Me?

Do you and your spouse want to avoid court hearings and costly trials? Do you feel that for the most part, you are able to work together to finalize the details of your divorce? 

 

If yes, JFCC will serve as a neutral, third-party mediator or in the capacity of a financial neutral (ask us the difference in your phone consultation) to help you negotiate common divorce-related issues like:  


    -property division

    -child custody and visitation

    -child support, and

    -alimony or spousal support


Mediation works when both parties are willing to negotiate. JFCC financial and accounting expertise or professional mediation services will help you and your spouse reach a mutual agreement.  When JFCC serves as your mediator, your final product will be your jointly negotiated Memorandum of Understanding.  Mediation saves you time and the costly fess which may be incurred during a prolonged court battle.


What is Collaborative Practice? When Would This Be My Best Option?

Collaborative Practice is an alternative dispute resolution model where a team of experts help parties remain "interest-focused" during their negotiations, under the guidance of a legal contract. This is best when both parties are still hoping to avoid litigation, but need additional support from attorneys, financial neutrals, and mental health professionals to help finalize an agreement.  


You and your divorce attorneys work as a team with mental health professionals and financial experts like JFCC to help you negotiate your divorce settlement using Guidelines for Effective Communication and other process-specific techniques that will lay the foundation for your future post-divorce interaction - such as in an instance where you may be co-parenting young children (or even sharing in the life events of adult children).


How long this process takes depends on many factors, including the preparedness of both parties, their willingness to work toward a solution and the complexity of the issues to be decided. When complete, the agreement is signed by both parties and filed with the court.  


This process offers more control to you and your spouse as you negotiate alimony, child support, and the division of assets while providing you the financial information, legal considerations, and emotional support needed in a transparent manner to help you make your decision.

 

When is Litigation the Better Option?

When you and your spouse cannot agree, a judge may need to decide for you. 

 

In protracted negotiations, there can come a point of frustration where neither party can reason or offer any kind of compromise to finalize a settlement.  


In these cases, JFCC will serve as a financial expert for our client and their attorney, addressing all the typical issues considered in divorce, but doing so as a consultant and potential expert witness in a court proceeding.


Helping You Find Peace and Financial Resolution

How Would You Like Us to Help in Your Divorce?

Divorce Mediation


  • Mediate as you and your spouse identify and articulate your post-divorce interests; including treatment of marital assets, custody matters and so forth.  Informed decisions can then be made by each of you.
  • Share our experience from other cases to help you consider options you may not have thought of on your own or have questions about. 

Collaborative Practice

• Avoid the stress of the litigation process while still benefiting from attorney support. In addition, you will have both financial and mental health support. 

• Sherry Jordan can serve as financial neutral support for both parties, with each party having a separate lawyer.

• Sherry Jordan can advise and direct both parties when it comes to current cash flow, standard of living and budgets, future needs, child support, valuation of past services to the family, future career prospects, and rehabilitation/education costs. 

Divorce Litigation

  • Each party hires an attorney that will work with them to prepare their case, their "positions" in the divorce.
  • JFCC serves as a financial expert in such matters. Often preparing business valuation reports and providing the related testimony.

Divorce Mediation and Divorce Litigation In Harrisburg & Central PA

Business Valuation

Conflict Resolution

Succession Planning

Divorce Mediation