Family Law

     A majority of the respondents to a recent poll of American 
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer (AAML) members cited an increase 
in divorce cases being settled before trial. In all, 58% of the
attorneys said that they have seen more cases being resolved 
without trial during the past five years.
    "A growing number of couples are having more success negotiating
settlements with the assistance of their lawyers," said Gaetano "Guy"
Ferro, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
"Negotiated settlement gives the spouses more input into their divorce
judgment than does letting a judge decide the issues. It affords the
opportunity for more creative resolutions which can minimize adverse tax
consequences. Settlement is almost always less stressful for the spouses
than trial and, where there are children, makes it more likely that the
parties will be able to effectively co-parent."
    The number of attorneys who noted an increase in the number of divorces
being resolved without a trial during the past five years was significantly
greater than those who felt there were fewer negotiated settlements taking
place. Only 12% of the respondents reported fewer cases being settled
before trial.
From PRNewswire.