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227 Chelmsford Street
Chelmsford,
Massachusetts
01824
Phone: 978-250-4980
Fax: 978-256-7812
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Attorney Profile
I am Roland A. Turmaine. I have been practicing law for more than 30 years. I graduated cum laude from University of San Diego Law School, and received an American Jurisprudence award from Bancroft Whitney.
I have a general practice law office dealing with personal injury, divorce, divorce mediation, collaborative law,real estate transactions, estate administration, wills, and incorporation.
I sat as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for 10 years. I am currently a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, and the New Hampshire Mediation Association.
I enjoy working with people in bad times and in good times. Effectively serving my clients' needs brings me significant pleasure. I do well at communicating, negotiating, motivating, analyzing and organizing. I have consistently maximized the benefits derived from the legal system for my clients in resolving disputes.
Why Divorce Mediation
There are only two ways for parties to terminate the ongoing breach in their marital relationship. One involves a protracted court battle in which a Judge decides all issues including who shall have custody of the children and the visitation schedule; the amount and manner of alimony or child support; medical, dental and life insurance; and finally who owns what property and when. In the other method the husband and wife make all these decisions by reaching agreement and signing a "Separation Agreement". By far the vast majority of people who get divorced see the wisdom in the latter method, sooner or later. In fact, at least 90% of all Massachusetts divorces end by reaching an agreement.
What makes the most difference in divorce cases is when in the process the parties decide an agreement is preferable. The financial, social and emotional fallout for the family is exacerbated the longer the court process goes on before the swords are put down. That process can generally be described as hiring lawyers, filing for divorce, going to court for "temporary orders", "discovery", negotiations, pretrial conference, and finally trial. Anywhere along the line, once agreement is reached the process is truncated and a relatively brief hearing is held at which the judge examines and approves the agreement and grants the divorce.
The court process is fraught with disadvantages. It involves two attorneys being paid for their time. It can involve tactics and strategies that inflict emotional wounds. It is sometimes conducted in such a way as to maximize the time spent by the attorneys. Many studies have shown that the shorter and less intense the conflict between the parties, the less the children suffer. The court process, however, is simply not designed to minimize the conflict.
There is a healthier alternative. This option recognizes and capitalizes on the fact that divorce can present a chance for individual growth! In this approach, the husband and wife work together on the same issues to be resolved, and minimize the negative energy expended. This allows consideration of a wide range of possible solutions better suited to satisfy the real human needs involved, and creatively address the underlying interests of each.
This alternative is divorce mediation. The most immediate and measurable difference is in the money saved. One professional is paid by both parties for a shorter period of time. A more lasting difference is in the emotional area where feelings of anger, frustration and helplessness are lessened, while respect and trust for each other are enhanced or at least not destroyed. Obvious beneficiaries of mediation are the children as well as the parties themselves.
Mediation works well for couples who know what is best for the family and who are willing to make a good faith effort to work toward attaining that goal. When post-divorce life is guided by a settlement that the parties have fashioned themselves, rather than one imposed by a judge, the chances for mutual compliance increase significantly. Another advantage to such a settlement is that it usually allows for more flexibility in adapting to the inevitable changes that happen in life.
To save time, money and emotions, and to save the children, the best choice is to start with mediation.
Practice Areas:
Divorce Litigation
The process of obtaining a divorce can seem like crossing a mine field - you must know the lay of the land to survive the course. Child support, visitation, alimony, property division, insurance - all of these issues can cause great difficulty unless handled properly. I have been involved in divorce litigation since 1977. I am familiar with the ins an outs, many of the judges and other divorce lawyers and I understand how the system works. Put a winner on your side!
Divorce Mediation
Some couples are able to divorce without losing all respect for each other and declaring out right war. The benefits and money and time saved and in avoidance of feelings of anger, frustration, fear and helplessness are enormous. I am a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation and Merrimack Valley Mediators Group.
Collaborative Law
Collaborative law is a relatively new method of handling divorce disputes. What is very different in this process is that the two parties and the two attorneys sign one agreement by the terms of which they commit to resolving the matter in good faith without resorting to court. If one of the parties insists on going into the courtroom before the entire matter is resolved, the attorneys must withdraw and cannot represent the parties in court litigation. I am a charter member and was the first clerk of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council.
General Practice
Whether its wills, trusts, estate probate, incorporation, real estate or homesteads, I handle it with prompt professional service and understandable explanations. NO LEGALESE SPOKEN HERE.
Please email us or visit our website for additional information.
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