FamilyFirst Law-- Center for Collaborative Family Law & Mediation

Open for Business
Offers Video Calls
FamilyFirst Law-- Center for Collaborative Family Law & Mediation

Don't wait-- Connect with us right NOW to speak with a legal specialist about your case! Call 24 x 7-- (800) 419-4171 Ext. 0 Monthly legal subscription plans starting at $545.00 / mo. SMART LEGAL- Unlimited Consultations

This lawyer is licensed to practice in California and has no record of discipline from the California bar association. *

FamilyFirst Law-- Center for Collaborative Family Law & Mediation

FamilyFirst Law-- Center for Collaborative Family Law & Mediation

Open for Business
Offers Video Calls

Don't wait-- Connect with us right NOW to speak with a legal specialist about your case! Call 24 x 7-- (800) 419-4171 Ext. 0 Monthly legal subscription plans starting at $545.00 / mo. SMART LEGAL- Unlimited Consultations

This lawyer is licensed to practice in California and has no record of discipline from the California bar association. *

Firm Overview

Don't wait-- Connect with us right NOW to speak with a legal specialist about your case!
Call 24 x 7-- (800) 419-4171 Ext. 0

Monthly legal subscription plans starting at $545.00 / mo.

"SMART LEGAL"
An Affordable Unbundled Legal Services
Office located throughout California

FamilyFirst Law, P.C.
Board Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), State Bar of California
Registered Financial Consultant (IARFC)
DRPA Qualified Mediator

*Unlimited legal consultations
*No Retainers, No Hourly Billing, No Hidden Fees
*Assigned and dedicated Family Law attorney
*Expert advice: Board Certified Family Law Specialists
*Conveniently schedule your legal consultations via an online calendar app
*Virtual video-based legal consultations using your PC or Smartphone
*Money back satisfaction guarantee*

The Most Cost Effective Way to Take Care of All Your Legal Needs
California Divorce, Custody and Support Matters

No One Should Be Their Own Legal Advisor
FamilyFirst Law developed SMART LEGAL to take care of all your legal needs, easily and affordably. Never again will you have to handle your own court proceedings, or struggle to follow the correct procedures. Now you will always have expert legal counsel in your corner, and you will have the peace of mind knowing that you are always executing the right strategy, making the best legal arguments, and negotiating like an expert to get the outcome you want.

Dedicated To Saving Time and Money
We believe families should not have to spend their life savings on legal fees and court costs. Legal services should be accessible and affordable for everyone. That is why SMART LEGAL is structured on making it easier to maintain the legal help you need from start to finish at an affordable price. You have access to expert family law counsel at any time, but only pay for the legal services you need. All at a price you can afford.

Solve Legal Problems Without Hassle
Questions about how to start your case? Help responding to a discovery brief? Do you have an upcoming court hearing that you are afraid to handle on your own? Legal services should be accessible to anyone. Its never been easier to get expert counsel. Just schedule a phone or video consultation with your lawyer whenever you need and when it is convenient for you. Get solutions and guidance from an expert family law attorney whom you can trust, and let us help guide you through your entire case so you can sleep better at night.

Call Today to schedule your FREE Consultation!

Main Office

Center for Collaborative Family Law
Offices located throughout California
Main Office: 2945 Townsgate Road, Suite 200
Westlake Village, CA 91361

Phone

(800) 419-4171

Fees
Free Initial Consultation?

Free Consultation

Services Offered For Fixed Fees?

No Retainers, No Hourly Billing, No Hidden Fees. Unlimited Consultations starting as low as $545 / month

Office Information
Office Hours

8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Collaborative Divorce

Advancing the New, Modern Approach to Family Law, Respectfully. Since 2007, The California Courts have officially recognized the Collaborative approach as the fastest, and most effective way to resolve a family divorce in California.

Description of Practice
Advancing the New, Modern Approach to Family Law, Respectfully. FamilyFirst Law has over a 95% success rate when parties commit to the Collaborative process. All FamilyFirst Law attorneys are certified under the standards and guidelines of DRPA, IACP, and IDFA. Offices located throughout So. Cal.
Flat rate fee available.*

Since 2007, The California Courts have officially recognized the Collaborative approach as the fastest, and most effective way to resolve a family divorce.

Professional Background
Attorneys at Law
IACP Certified Family Law Collaborative Professionals
IDFA Certified Divorce Financial Analysts
Cal. DRPA Certified Mediators
Graduates of the Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation

Experience
FamilyFirst Law focuses exclusively on the principles of Collaborative Family Law, Collaborative Mediation, facilitative mediation, and evaluative mediation. FamilyFirst Law has over a 95% success rate when parties commit to the Collaborative process.

FamilyFirst Law adheres to the principles defined under Cal Family Code Section 2013, as well as the Model Standards of Conduct adopted by the American Bar Association's Section of Dispute Resolution, and the Association for Conflict Resolution.

Furthermore, all FamilyFirst Law attorneys are certified under the standards and guidelines defined by the California Dispute Resolution Act (DRPA), and certified under the IACP guidelines for Collaborative Professionals, and adhere to the standards of practice for Mediators and Practitioners set forth by the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC).

Approach
FamilyFirst Law professionals strongly advocate the Collaborative approach over all other methods especially for families with children which includes legal counseling and legal advice throughout the process, but without any in-court litigation. "The Collaborative Approach helps guide the parties to mutually acceptable resolutions, and can provide parties with complementary resources and dispute resolution methods that are simply unavailable in court." (Ronald M. George, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of California.)

We believe in creating a transformative process that is framework oriented, and which guides the parties towards the creation of comprehensive and durable settlement agreements which go far beyond what a court can order, and what is traditionally negotiated in the shadow of a trial. Our process focuses on interest-based negotiations and guidance rather than positional bargaining. We believe in educating all Parties throughout the process and we incorporate all forms of dispute resolution to insure a successful outcome, including the possibility of limited and single issue arbitration if necessary. Most importantly, we believe parties should save their money for the future of their family and not waste it all on manufactured legal disputes. And we believe in creating a process which can resolve in a matter of months, not years.

Divorce Mediation

Advancing the New, Modern Approach to Family Law, Respectfully. Since 2007, The California Courts have officially recognized the Collaborative approach as the fastest, and most effective way to resolve a family divorce in California.

Description of Practice
Advancing the New, Modern Approach to Family Law, Respectfully. FamilyFirst Law has over a 95% success rate when parties commit to the Collaborative process. All FamilyFirst Law attorneys are certified under the standards and guidelines of DRPA, IACP, and IDFA. Offices located throughout So. Cal.
Flat rate fee available.*

Since 2007, The California Courts have officially recognized the Collaborative approach as the fastest, and most effective way to resolve a family divorce.

Professional Background
Attorneys at Law
IACP Certified Family Law Collaborative Professionals
IDFA Certified Divorce Financial Analysts
Cal. DRPA Certified Mediators
Graduates of the Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation

Experience
FamilyFirst Law focuses exclusively on the principles of Collaborative Family Law, Collaborative Mediation, facilitative mediation, and evaluative mediation. FamilyFirst Law has over a 95% success rate when parties commit to the Collaborative process.

FamilyFirst Law adheres to the principles defined under Cal Family Code Section 2013, as well as the Model Standards of Conduct adopted by the American Bar Association's Section of Dispute Resolution, and the Association for Conflict Resolution.

Furthermore, all FamilyFirst Law attorneys are certified under the standards and guidelines defined by the California Dispute Resolution Act (DRPA), and certified under the IACP guidelines for Collaborative Professionals, and adhere to the standards of practice for Mediators and Practitioners set forth by the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC).

Approach
FamilyFirst Law professionals strongly advocate the Collaborative approach over all other methods especially for families with children which includes legal counseling and legal advice throughout the process, but without any in-court litigation. "The Collaborative Approach helps guide the parties to mutually acceptable resolutions, and can provide parties with complementary resources and dispute resolution methods that are simply unavailable in court." (Ronald M. George, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of California.)

We believe in creating a transformative process that is framework oriented, and which guides the parties towards the creation of comprehensive and durable settlement agreements which go far beyond what a court can order, and what is traditionally negotiated in the shadow of a trial. Our process focuses on interest-based negotiations and guidance rather than positional bargaining. We believe in educating all Parties throughout the process and we incorporate all forms of dispute resolution to insure a successful outcome, including the possibility of limited and single issue arbitration if necessary. Most importantly, we believe parties should save their money for the future of their family and not waste it all on manufactured legal disputes. And we believe in creating a process which can resolve in a matter of months, not years.

Divorce

Military Divorce

Employment

Wrongful Termination

Legal Malpractice

How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)?

OUR VISION

FamilyFirst Law was created as a specialized law firm with the vision to transform how families resolve conflict and to provide a safe-haven when they need guidance resolving disputes before and after the marriage. Litigation can last for years. And the process is usually emotionally destructive and often leaves couples financially bankrupt. Furthermore, there is a misconception that a final judgment on legal issues ends all the problems. This is never the case. California courts retain jurisdiction over a host of issues such as: child custody, visitation, child support, and spousal support. Unless and until couples learn to cooperate and work together, they will almost always end up back in court at some point and often several times.

We believe strongly that negotiation and open dialogue need to start right at the beginning. The litigation process raises the partys emotional levels and taints the ability of individuals to think clearly about whats most important for their future. Litigation creates conflict, and is the complete opposite of problem-solving which is what families need most.

Our vision is to structure a process that opens the channels of communication in a way that supports creative thinking, and promotes education and active participation in the development of a long term solution. Our firm is committed to a methodology that: (1) eliminates all the drawbacks of complex, lengthy and expensive litigation, (2) significantly reduces the out of pocket costs, (3) accelerates the process of settlement, (4) preserves the integrity of the family unit, (5) fosters respectful communication, (6) preserve emotional capital, and (7) moves the parties towards a successful outcome.

FamilyFirst Law approaches every family™s legal, social, financial, and emotional issues with a complete and balanced professional teamwork methodology. The team of trained professionals include: Attorneys, Marriage and Family Therapists, Certified Divorce Financial Analysts, Career Advisers, and Settlement Counselors who all work together with you in a collaborative model. Under this unique approach, parties are more likely to find mutually acceptable solutions and reach agreement. In addition, we believe it is important to remove the fear associated with separation and divorce by educating the parties on how the law affects their case and their issues, and how financial decisions may affect their present and future. The goal is to restructure the family into new model--a model that focuses on the needs of the children while also balancing the priorities of both parents. Remember, you are not ending your relationship with each other, you are merely changing it.

What experience or education distinguishes your lawyers from others?

NegotiationFIRST Collaborative Methodology

At FamilyFirst Law, we have spent years developing and designing a system which simply works. Our system leads not only to successful settlement agreement within months, it fosters a healthier relationship long term, and helps facilitate good co-parenting communication. Our lawyers are trained and Certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution and have incorporated some the foremost leading strategies for successful martial dispute resolution. Our modern methodology and approach has been used to successfully resolved hundreds of complex marital issues out-of-court.

Collaborative lawyers have a completely different state of mind about what their job is than conventional lawyers generally bring to their work. We call it a "paradigm shift." Instead of being dedicated to getting the largest possible piece of the pie for their own client, no matter the human or financial cost, collaborative lawyers are dedicated to helping their clients achieve their highest intentions for themselves in their post-divorce restructured families.

WHY IS COLLABORATIVE LAW SUCH AN EFFECTIVE SETTLEMENT PROCESS?

Collaborative lawyers do not act as a hired guns. Nor do they take advantage of mistakes inadvertently made by the other side. Nor do they threaten, or insult, or focus on the negative either in their own clients or on the other side. They expect and encourage the highest good-faith problem-solving behavior from their own clients and themselves, and they stake their own professional integrity on delivering that, in any collaborative representation they participate in. Collaborative lawyers are incentivized to provide unbiased legal advice because they are not swayed by the desire to retain their clients hourly billing.

Collaborative Law offers a greater potential for creative problem-solving than does either mediation or litigation, in that only Collaborative Law puts all parties in the same room pulling in the same direction to solve the same list of problems. Lawyers excel at solving problems, but in conventional litigation they pull in opposite directions. As legal professionals, we cannot succeed as a Collaborative Legal Process unless we can find solutions to both party's problems and issues that everyone finds satisfactory. This is the special characteristic of Collaborative Law that is found in no other dispute resolution process.

What distinguishes your law firm from others?

EXCLUSIVELY COMMITTED TO COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS

At FamilyFirst Law, our center, and all our professionals are exclusively committed to collaborative solutions. This means that we only advocate out-of-court settlement solutions, and we do NOT represent individuals in an adversarial or conventional divorce process. We do not believe in the old conventional divorce methods because the legal system was never truly designed to meet the needs of families who are going through such emotionally difficult times in their lives. While we understand that differences and disagreements can seem overwhelming at times, we know that most issues can be resolved more effectively through a collaborative team approach with trained professionals helping guide the parties through the promotion of education and active participation.

We are not distracted by the prospect of being able to still represent a party if negotiations break down. We are also not distracted by the traditional and often time-consuming litigation process. Our only incentive is to identify the issues and structure a settlement--one that is embraced by both sides, out-of-court.

GUARANTEEING RESULTS THROUGH
€˜ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)


One of the unique advantages of the NegotiationFIRST Collaborative Methodology is the ability of the parties to avail themselves of ADR. Occasionally one issue may become difficult for the parties to find common ground despite the fact that they may have successfully compromised on dozens of other issues related to their divorce. When this happens, FamilyFirst Law is in a unique position to allow the parties to arbitrate this isolated issue in our private forum. Rather than waste all the goodwill and successful negotiation which the parties have achieved up to this point, the ADR process allow the parties to effectively litigate just that one issue, and not their entire case. It also allows the parties to keep their matter private instead of moving their case back into the public forum, the California Courts, where the conventional adversarial process could get out of hand, and the parties could find themselves in pitched battle for years.

Private ADR arbitration is offered as a flat rate service, and while it takes place in front of a private judge, or judicial panel, it is not like a formal courtroom proceeding. The parties are free to negotiate the scope of the hearing. The parties are not required to follow the formal rules of evidence, or even the rules of civil procedure which makes the hearing much easier for parties to conduct on their own without legal representation while still getting a fair chance to make their case. Nonetheless, the parties are certainly free to obtain independent legal counsel to prepare and argue on their behalf. Once a decision is reached, the judgment is binding, and it then becomes incorporated into the final martial settlement agreement.

At FamilyFirst Law, we are advancing the new, modern approach to family law, respectfully.

FamilyFirst Law-- Center for Collaborative Family Law & Mediation
Michael E. Teplinsky, Esq, CFLS, RFC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), State Bar of California
Registered Financial Consultant ® (IARFC)
DRPA Qualified Mediator (Loyola Law School)
Harvard Law School Negotiation Institute (2014, 2016)

FamilyFirst Law-- Center for Collaborative Family Law & Mediation
Michael E. Teplinsky, Esq, CFLS, RFC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), State Bar of California
Registered Financial Consultant ® (IARFC)
DRPA Qualified Mediator (Loyola Law School)
Harvard Law School Negotiation Institute (2014, 2016)

Firm Overview

Don't wait-- Connect with us right NOW to speak with a legal specialist about your case!
Call 24 x 7-- (800) 419-4171 Ext. 0

Monthly legal subscription plans starting at $545.00 / mo.

"SMART LEGAL"
An Affordable Unbundled Legal Services
Office located throughout California

FamilyFirst Law, P.C.
Board Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), State Bar of California
Registered Financial Consultant (IARFC)
DRPA Qualified Mediator

*Unlimited legal consultations
*No Retainers, No Hourly Billing, No Hidden Fees
*Assigned and dedicated Family Law attorney
*Expert advice: Board Certified Family Law Specialists
*Conveniently schedule your legal consultations via an online calendar app
*Virtual video-based legal consultations using your PC or Smartphone
*Money back satisfaction guarantee*

The Most Cost Effective Way to Take Care of All Your Legal Needs
California Divorce, Custody and Support Matters

No One Should Be Their Own Legal Advisor
FamilyFirst Law developed SMART LEGAL to take care of all your legal needs, easily and affordably. Never again will you have to handle your own court proceedings, or struggle to follow the correct procedures. Now you will always have expert legal counsel in your corner, and you will have the peace of mind knowing that you are always executing the right strategy, making the best legal arguments, and negotiating like an expert to get the outcome you want.

Dedicated To Saving Time and Money
We believe families should not have to spend their life savings on legal fees and court costs. Legal services should be accessible and affordable for everyone. That is why SMART LEGAL is structured on making it easier to maintain the legal help you need from start to finish at an affordable price. You have access to expert family law counsel at any time, but only pay for the legal services you need. All at a price you can afford.

Solve Legal Problems Without Hassle
Questions about how to start your case? Help responding to a discovery brief? Do you have an upcoming court hearing that you are afraid to handle on your own? Legal services should be accessible to anyone. Its never been easier to get expert counsel. Just schedule a phone or video consultation with your lawyer whenever you need and when it is convenient for you. Get solutions and guidance from an expert family law attorney whom you can trust, and let us help guide you through your entire case so you can sleep better at night.

Call Today to schedule your FREE Consultation!

Main Office

Center for Collaborative Family Law
Offices located throughout California
Main Office: 2945 Townsgate Road, Suite 200
Westlake Village, CA 91361

Phone

(800) 419-4171

Fees
Free Initial Consultation?

Free Consultation

Services Offered For Fixed Fees?

No Retainers, No Hourly Billing, No Hidden Fees. Unlimited Consultations starting as low as $545 / month

Office Information
Office Hours

8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Collaborative Divorce

Advancing the New, Modern Approach to Family Law, Respectfully. Since 2007, The California Courts have officially recognized the Collaborative approach as the fastest, and most effective way to resolve a family divorce in California.

Description of Practice
Advancing the New, Modern Approach to Family Law, Respectfully. FamilyFirst Law has over a 95% success rate when parties commit to the Collaborative process. All FamilyFirst Law attorneys are certified under the standards and guidelines of DRPA, IACP, and IDFA. Offices located throughout So. Cal.
Flat rate fee available.*

Since 2007, The California Courts have officially recognized the Collaborative approach as the fastest, and most effective way to resolve a family divorce.

Professional Background
Attorneys at Law
IACP Certified Family Law Collaborative Professionals
IDFA Certified Divorce Financial Analysts
Cal. DRPA Certified Mediators
Graduates of the Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation

Experience
FamilyFirst Law focuses exclusively on the principles of Collaborative Family Law, Collaborative Mediation, facilitative mediation, and evaluative mediation. FamilyFirst Law has over a 95% success rate when parties commit to the Collaborative process.

FamilyFirst Law adheres to the principles defined under Cal Family Code Section 2013, as well as the Model Standards of Conduct adopted by the American Bar Association's Section of Dispute Resolution, and the Association for Conflict Resolution.

Furthermore, all FamilyFirst Law attorneys are certified under the standards and guidelines defined by the California Dispute Resolution Act (DRPA), and certified under the IACP guidelines for Collaborative Professionals, and adhere to the standards of practice for Mediators and Practitioners set forth by the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC).

Approach
FamilyFirst Law professionals strongly advocate the Collaborative approach over all other methods especially for families with children which includes legal counseling and legal advice throughout the process, but without any in-court litigation. "The Collaborative Approach helps guide the parties to mutually acceptable resolutions, and can provide parties with complementary resources and dispute resolution methods that are simply unavailable in court." (Ronald M. George, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of California.)

We believe in creating a transformative process that is framework oriented, and which guides the parties towards the creation of comprehensive and durable settlement agreements which go far beyond what a court can order, and what is traditionally negotiated in the shadow of a trial. Our process focuses on interest-based negotiations and guidance rather than positional bargaining. We believe in educating all Parties throughout the process and we incorporate all forms of dispute resolution to insure a successful outcome, including the possibility of limited and single issue arbitration if necessary. Most importantly, we believe parties should save their money for the future of their family and not waste it all on manufactured legal disputes. And we believe in creating a process which can resolve in a matter of months, not years.

Divorce Mediation

Advancing the New, Modern Approach to Family Law, Respectfully. Since 2007, The California Courts have officially recognized the Collaborative approach as the fastest, and most effective way to resolve a family divorce in California.

Description of Practice
Advancing the New, Modern Approach to Family Law, Respectfully. FamilyFirst Law has over a 95% success rate when parties commit to the Collaborative process. All FamilyFirst Law attorneys are certified under the standards and guidelines of DRPA, IACP, and IDFA. Offices located throughout So. Cal.
Flat rate fee available.*

Since 2007, The California Courts have officially recognized the Collaborative approach as the fastest, and most effective way to resolve a family divorce.

Professional Background
Attorneys at Law
IACP Certified Family Law Collaborative Professionals
IDFA Certified Divorce Financial Analysts
Cal. DRPA Certified Mediators
Graduates of the Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation

Experience
FamilyFirst Law focuses exclusively on the principles of Collaborative Family Law, Collaborative Mediation, facilitative mediation, and evaluative mediation. FamilyFirst Law has over a 95% success rate when parties commit to the Collaborative process.

FamilyFirst Law adheres to the principles defined under Cal Family Code Section 2013, as well as the Model Standards of Conduct adopted by the American Bar Association's Section of Dispute Resolution, and the Association for Conflict Resolution.

Furthermore, all FamilyFirst Law attorneys are certified under the standards and guidelines defined by the California Dispute Resolution Act (DRPA), and certified under the IACP guidelines for Collaborative Professionals, and adhere to the standards of practice for Mediators and Practitioners set forth by the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC).

Approach
FamilyFirst Law professionals strongly advocate the Collaborative approach over all other methods especially for families with children which includes legal counseling and legal advice throughout the process, but without any in-court litigation. "The Collaborative Approach helps guide the parties to mutually acceptable resolutions, and can provide parties with complementary resources and dispute resolution methods that are simply unavailable in court." (Ronald M. George, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of California.)

We believe in creating a transformative process that is framework oriented, and which guides the parties towards the creation of comprehensive and durable settlement agreements which go far beyond what a court can order, and what is traditionally negotiated in the shadow of a trial. Our process focuses on interest-based negotiations and guidance rather than positional bargaining. We believe in educating all Parties throughout the process and we incorporate all forms of dispute resolution to insure a successful outcome, including the possibility of limited and single issue arbitration if necessary. Most importantly, we believe parties should save their money for the future of their family and not waste it all on manufactured legal disputes. And we believe in creating a process which can resolve in a matter of months, not years.

Divorce

Military Divorce

Employment

Wrongful Termination

Legal Malpractice

How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)?

OUR VISION

FamilyFirst Law was created as a specialized law firm with the vision to transform how families resolve conflict and to provide a safe-haven when they need guidance resolving disputes before and after the marriage. Litigation can last for years. And the process is usually emotionally destructive and often leaves couples financially bankrupt. Furthermore, there is a misconception that a final judgment on legal issues ends all the problems. This is never the case. California courts retain jurisdiction over a host of issues such as: child custody, visitation, child support, and spousal support. Unless and until couples learn to cooperate and work together, they will almost always end up back in court at some point and often several times.

We believe strongly that negotiation and open dialogue need to start right at the beginning. The litigation process raises the partys emotional levels and taints the ability of individuals to think clearly about whats most important for their future. Litigation creates conflict, and is the complete opposite of problem-solving which is what families need most.

Our vision is to structure a process that opens the channels of communication in a way that supports creative thinking, and promotes education and active participation in the development of a long term solution. Our firm is committed to a methodology that: (1) eliminates all the drawbacks of complex, lengthy and expensive litigation, (2) significantly reduces the out of pocket costs, (3) accelerates the process of settlement, (4) preserves the integrity of the family unit, (5) fosters respectful communication, (6) preserve emotional capital, and (7) moves the parties towards a successful outcome.

FamilyFirst Law approaches every family™s legal, social, financial, and emotional issues with a complete and balanced professional teamwork methodology. The team of trained professionals include: Attorneys, Marriage and Family Therapists, Certified Divorce Financial Analysts, Career Advisers, and Settlement Counselors who all work together with you in a collaborative model. Under this unique approach, parties are more likely to find mutually acceptable solutions and reach agreement. In addition, we believe it is important to remove the fear associated with separation and divorce by educating the parties on how the law affects their case and their issues, and how financial decisions may affect their present and future. The goal is to restructure the family into new model--a model that focuses on the needs of the children while also balancing the priorities of both parents. Remember, you are not ending your relationship with each other, you are merely changing it.

What experience or education distinguishes your lawyers from others?

NegotiationFIRST Collaborative Methodology

At FamilyFirst Law, we have spent years developing and designing a system which simply works. Our system leads not only to successful settlement agreement within months, it fosters a healthier relationship long term, and helps facilitate good co-parenting communication. Our lawyers are trained and Certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution and have incorporated some the foremost leading strategies for successful martial dispute resolution. Our modern methodology and approach has been used to successfully resolved hundreds of complex marital issues out-of-court.

Collaborative lawyers have a completely different state of mind about what their job is than conventional lawyers generally bring to their work. We call it a "paradigm shift." Instead of being dedicated to getting the largest possible piece of the pie for their own client, no matter the human or financial cost, collaborative lawyers are dedicated to helping their clients achieve their highest intentions for themselves in their post-divorce restructured families.

WHY IS COLLABORATIVE LAW SUCH AN EFFECTIVE SETTLEMENT PROCESS?

Collaborative lawyers do not act as a hired guns. Nor do they take advantage of mistakes inadvertently made by the other side. Nor do they threaten, or insult, or focus on the negative either in their own clients or on the other side. They expect and encourage the highest good-faith problem-solving behavior from their own clients and themselves, and they stake their own professional integrity on delivering that, in any collaborative representation they participate in. Collaborative lawyers are incentivized to provide unbiased legal advice because they are not swayed by the desire to retain their clients hourly billing.

Collaborative Law offers a greater potential for creative problem-solving than does either mediation or litigation, in that only Collaborative Law puts all parties in the same room pulling in the same direction to solve the same list of problems. Lawyers excel at solving problems, but in conventional litigation they pull in opposite directions. As legal professionals, we cannot succeed as a Collaborative Legal Process unless we can find solutions to both party's problems and issues that everyone finds satisfactory. This is the special characteristic of Collaborative Law that is found in no other dispute resolution process.

What distinguishes your law firm from others?

EXCLUSIVELY COMMITTED TO COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS

At FamilyFirst Law, our center, and all our professionals are exclusively committed to collaborative solutions. This means that we only advocate out-of-court settlement solutions, and we do NOT represent individuals in an adversarial or conventional divorce process. We do not believe in the old conventional divorce methods because the legal system was never truly designed to meet the needs of families who are going through such emotionally difficult times in their lives. While we understand that differences and disagreements can seem overwhelming at times, we know that most issues can be resolved more effectively through a collaborative team approach with trained professionals helping guide the parties through the promotion of education and active participation.

We are not distracted by the prospect of being able to still represent a party if negotiations break down. We are also not distracted by the traditional and often time-consuming litigation process. Our only incentive is to identify the issues and structure a settlement--one that is embraced by both sides, out-of-court.

GUARANTEEING RESULTS THROUGH
€˜ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)


One of the unique advantages of the NegotiationFIRST Collaborative Methodology is the ability of the parties to avail themselves of ADR. Occasionally one issue may become difficult for the parties to find common ground despite the fact that they may have successfully compromised on dozens of other issues related to their divorce. When this happens, FamilyFirst Law is in a unique position to allow the parties to arbitrate this isolated issue in our private forum. Rather than waste all the goodwill and successful negotiation which the parties have achieved up to this point, the ADR process allow the parties to effectively litigate just that one issue, and not their entire case. It also allows the parties to keep their matter private instead of moving their case back into the public forum, the California Courts, where the conventional adversarial process could get out of hand, and the parties could find themselves in pitched battle for years.

Private ADR arbitration is offered as a flat rate service, and while it takes place in front of a private judge, or judicial panel, it is not like a formal courtroom proceeding. The parties are free to negotiate the scope of the hearing. The parties are not required to follow the formal rules of evidence, or even the rules of civil procedure which makes the hearing much easier for parties to conduct on their own without legal representation while still getting a fair chance to make their case. Nonetheless, the parties are certainly free to obtain independent legal counsel to prepare and argue on their behalf. Once a decision is reached, the judgment is binding, and it then becomes incorporated into the final martial settlement agreement.

At FamilyFirst Law, we are advancing the new, modern approach to family law, respectfully.

FamilyFirst Law-- Center for Collaborative Family Law & Mediation
Michael E. Teplinsky, Esq, CFLS, RFC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), State Bar of California
Registered Financial Consultant ® (IARFC)
DRPA Qualified Mediator (Loyola Law School)
Harvard Law School Negotiation Institute (2014, 2016)

FamilyFirst Law-- Center for Collaborative Family Law & Mediation
Michael E. Teplinsky, Esq, CFLS, RFC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), State Bar of California
Registered Financial Consultant ® (IARFC)
DRPA Qualified Mediator (Loyola Law School)
Harvard Law School Negotiation Institute (2014, 2016)

This lawyer is licensed to practice in California and has no record of discipline from the California bar association. *

* Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers. Any past disbarments and suspensions (with possible exceptions for minor violations or nonpayment of dues, in our discretion) will be indicated accordingly in the badge. Member attorneys are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any state licensing agency.

Contact Us

This lawyer is licensed to practice in California and has no record of discipline from the California bar association. *

* Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers. Any past disbarments and suspensions (with possible exceptions for minor violations or nonpayment of dues, in our discretion) will be indicated accordingly in the badge. Member attorneys are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any state licensing agency.