Newton attorney Marilyn M. Wilder, partner in the firm of Adrian & Pankratz, P.A., was recently trained in Collaborative Family Law during a two-day training sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. In collaborative family law, spouses who seek divorce are each represented by specially trained attorneys throughout the negotiation of their divorce. The parties agree that they will negotiate their own settlement and agree that they will not go to court to have a judge decide issues of property division and/or matters involving their children.
The goal of collaborative law is a good faith negotiation process that is respectful and seeks to meet the needs of both spouses as fully as possible. A number of attorneys from Newton, Hutchinson and Wichita also attended the training. Wilder, who is also a certified mediator, practices heavily in the family law area.