Jill graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Legal Studies. During her last year at UCF, she interned with a large firm in downtown Orlando and that is where she found her life’s purpose. Afterwards, she attended law school at Stetson University College of Law and graduated cum laude. After taking a course in family law, she realized that she wanted to help individuals by representing them in family law cases.

Jill is a child of divorced parents and witnessed first-hand the affect conflict has on the family and the individuals. She learned nothing good comes from a high-conflict divorce. It wipes out the family finances and leaves the family torn apart and emotionally spent. After experiencing her own health issues seven years ago, she decided to turn away from litigation to focus on resolving disputes peacefully. There is a better way to divorce. It does not have to be a fight or a war. There are other options to the traditional litigation case, i.e., the collaborative divorce process or uncontested divorces or mediation.

Jill approaches each case differently… with a commitment to well-being and on healing the brokenness through collaboration. She draws upon her own personal experiences and legal experiences. She understands what it feels like to experience change and hurt and fear. Rise above the pain, anger, mistakes and disappointments. There is a better way!

Legal Process: Collaborative law is a structured legal process where the parties commit to settling their dispute out of court.  It is an alternative to going to court.  The collaborative process is voluntary and begins with both parties hiring collaborative attorneys and signing a participation agreement.    The attorneys work together as a team, instead of adversaries, to assist the parties in resolving their dispute.  The collaborative process is not limited to just divorces.  Often it has been used in custody disputes, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and modifications.    

Parties are in control:  In the collaborative process a series of meetings are scheduled.  The parties’ control when the meetings are scheduled, and the number of meetings.  Unlike the litigation process where the Judge controls the length of the case, the parties control the length of the case.  Further unlike the litigation process where the Judge decides the case, the parties decide how to resolve their case.  

Confidential:  The communications exchanged during the collaborative law process and the discussions that take place during the meetings are confidential and cannot be disclosed to any person who is not a participant in the collaborative law process.  This is a huge benefit to those parties who want to keep the finances and family matters private.  Unlike the litigation process where the public can attend hearings and view motions filed in the litigation case, the public cannot attend the meetings in the collaborative law process and no motions are filed with the court.  

Full Disclosure:  Transparency and honesty are the tenets to the collaborative law process.  Each party commits in the participation agreement to disclose all relevant information to the professionals and other party.  Thus, there is no hiding financial information from the other party.  All information must be fully disclosed so that each party is prepared to discuss settlement options.    

Family Focused:  Preserving relationships is the focus of the collaborative law process.  It is important for parties who have children together to be able to communicate with one another after the divorce.  The collaborative law process is the best option for preserving relationships.  In the process, the parties learn to communicate and work together to resolve their differences for the entire family.  Further, the family is shielded and protected in the collaborative law process from feeling the negative effects from litigation.