The OCFLA[1] was originally conceived in 2007, by members of a Collaborative Law sub-committee of a Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution for Children and Families.  Five (5) years later, the 129th General Assembly passed the Ohio Collaborative Family Law Act (OCFLA), effective on March 22, 2013.[2]  In so doing, the legislature provided Ohio families with a common sense approach to avoiding antagonistic and costly divorce litigation.  The legislature saw fit to codify what is commonly known as Collaborative Practice[3] and added this contractually-based, voluntary method for solving family law issues, to...

The Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct remind us, that as attorneys we function not only as advocates in adversarial situations, but also as negotiators, evaluators and advisors.[1]  The Rules outline our affirmative duty to provide information reasonably necessary to inform clients or other persons seeking our advice of the advantages and disadvantages of proposed courses of conduct which includes discussion of the client’s or other person’s options and alternatives.[2]  The Rules also provide that it is our clients who determine the scope of our representation and that we must respect our clients’ decisions concerning the objectives...

Poetry  by MAURY WHITE, ESQ.  **** Hello Mr. Lawyer, I’m sorry to report I think it’s time for me to take my husband to court. I don’t want to go to the cleaners and I only want what’s fair, What can you do for me and will you really care? We do not like court of course I’ve heard there’s a different way to divorce. But who will represent the scoundrel? He said he’ll find a shark. I fear he’ll hide the money and keep me in the dark. Do not fear the darkness, the best are in our group. We will give him a list of lawyer names They’ll each give him the straight poop. We do not like court,...