Teresa Ombres

My parents had a terrible divorce when I was 24. My sisters were 22, 17, and 15. Sides had to be chosen. Not just by us, We lost cousins/aunts/uncles.What if divorce didn’t have to break families apart or be so painful?  What if the professionals could guide divorcing couples on a path that heals – minimizing both emotional distress and costs - during this difficult time?How do I help achieve divorce with dignity? I have always been deeply empathetic. I respect that what people are feeling, thinking, and going through is real for them. I am fascinated by people’s relationships. Theirs inform mine, and mine informs theirs. I try to help my clients reconnect to each other’s hearts, turning a negative atmosphere into a positive one, ultimately leading to deep, lasting resolution, and a future with dignity, self-respect, and renewed hope.My practice blends three approaches:COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE – Both parties retain separate, specially trained lawyers, family specialists, and financial planners to assist in resolving issues fairly and equitably without going to court. As one of these attorneys, I agree to work respectfully, honestly, and diligently to find solutions that work best for the family. FAMILY MEDIATION – As a trained Divorce Mediator, I lead the divorcing parties towards an agreement that is usually reached in a fraction of the time, and at a fraction of the cost of many traditional litigated proceedings. It is an agreement minus the often arbitrary and binding decisions of a judge. LITIGATED DIVORCE – In certain circumstances, litigation is the right or only option. If that is so, we will endeavor to use common sense and maintain civility, all while making sure your rights are protected. The end result is a faster resolution—one that is less stressful and less costly for everyone involved.In all approaches, the rights of children and a humane approach to co-parenting are central to my work. My commitment to mediation, collaborative divorce, and civilized divorce also shows up in the classrooms of two different law schools and through board work with the leading organizations in the field, two of which I was a founding member.A first job at a matrimonial firm after law school left me completely disillusioned because most cases turned litigious and acrimonious. I quit and worked with my husband in sales promotion/marketing. A chance encounter with mediation awakened the mediator in me. I then trained in divorce mediation and shortly thereafter became one of the first 14 professionals trained in Collaborative Divorce.