Samantha VanTol is a partner at Arnson VanTol Law, PLC. Over her years of practice, Samantha has seen the way traditional litigation negatively impacts the family system long after the divorce process is complete. 

Litigation is seen by the general public as a win-lose situation. Everyone is clamoring to throw the first stone in the hopes of a more positive outcome for them. Ultimately, parents are asking complete strangers to make decisions regarding their children and finances. How can people expect a Judge who does not know them or their children to make the best decision for them?  

A couple could have a 10-day trial, and the Judge will still not know their family and circumstances the way the parties do. Judges will do the best they can, but they won't always get it right in the minds of litigants. And, when the dust settles, how do we expect litigants to co-parent effectively after they have spent months bringing up each other's shortcomings? How are the children supposed to navigate relationships with parents who hate each other? Children and families deserve a better way.   

Samantha believes that children benefit from parents who can work together in their best interests. In collaborative divorce, parents don't feel like they have to denigrate the other in order to win. Both parents, with a team or professionals, work together to create a plan that ensures each parent's goals are considered and the children are at the forefront of the decision making. This leads to outcomes that feel fair and just to both parents. The result is long lasting agreements, effective co-parenting, and tools and resources to work through future issues as they come up. Collaborative divorce is a positive way to handle a terrible situation.