CICD Policy Initiatives
By bringing together professionals with different expertise and singular focus on family transition, we have the opportunity to create and promote positive change in the future of divorce. In furtherance of our mission, we collaborate to consider, bring awareness to, and create policy initiatives that are supportive of mental health, cooperative co-parenting relationships, and conflict resolution.
We are continuously analyzing proposed legislation and other proactive initiatives that will impact family law practice; and, we are developing policy proposals of our own, from the perspective of negotiation theory, psychology of conflict, protection of legal rights, and sensible allocation of resources.
Did You Know?
- California Family Code 2013 permits the use of the collaborative law process in family law matters and Los Angeles County Local Rule 5.26 specifically encourages the use of the collaborative law process and other consensual dispute resolution processes. Institute member Jeff Jacobson co-authored Local Rule 5.26 which became a reality in large part due to Institute member Joe Spirito’s leadership and advocacy as chair of the LA County Bar Family Law Section. Great work Joe and Jeff!
- Qualifying couples in Los Angeles may now access free mediation or collaborative family law services, and tailored referrals to financial, medical, mental health and social services through HEALTHY Divorce. HEALTHY Divorce is a non-profit organization and pilot project recently founded by a team of lawyers and mental health providers, including Institute member Mary Lund. The Institute is grateful to Mary and the HEALTHY Divorce team for their tireless aims in reducing the negative impact of divorce, by providing access to services for the health of the whole family.
- There is presently no effective way for most couples who want to terminate their relationship status to file jointly as partners in the process, as opposed to legal adversaries. Institute members Jeff Jacobson and Jen Winestone have been working to change this. The Institute proudly supports and endorses their legislative efforts for a bill that would create a joint avenue for divorce.
- Mediation confidentiality and collaborative process confidentiality are crucial to promoting candor, interest-based negotiation, and creative problem solving in these consensual dispute resolution processes. Mediation confidentiality has been tested in several cases and the law arising from the protections continues to develop. The Institute is following these developments as they occur.
- When you file for divorce in California, your paperwork becomes part of the public record – which has now become searchable and accessible online by anyone, from nosey neighbors to prospective employers, and even your kids. The Institute is discussing and analyzing the impact of this new access to family health and autonomy and the policies underlying public proceedings in divorce.