While Deb Forman says that she is “no Atticus Finch,” she does consider herself a small-town lawyer.

She says that she helps people with legal obstacles in a “non-intimidating” way.

“I help people get through the difficult times in their lives,” she says.

Specifically, this includes working with them through the Collaborative divorce process–a “kinder, gentler” way to divorce without the drama and anxiety a traditional courtroom brings.

“In a drawn out divorce battle, the only one that wins is the lawyer,” she says. “It’s expensive to fight and extremely detrimental to the children.”

Collaborative divorce, she says, is the only method that allows both parties to communicate effectively, work out their issues, and be able to remain civil, for the sake of the children.

“It can be and usually is cheaper and can offer more creative and lasting solutions,” she added. “The spouses retain control of their divorce and their future.”

Her mantra: Marriages that end in divorce need not end in a courtroom.

Deb has had a practice in Lambertville, NJ since 1994. In addition to Collaborative divorce, she does real estate transactions, wills, health care directives (Living Wills), and financial power of attorney.

Besides helping people through troubling times, she helps them when times are good.

“I love working with people, helping them through their difficult family law issues, but also the happy times in their lives like house purchases and sales,” she says..

The Details:

• University of Maryland graduate

• Worked on Capitol Hill and in Florence, Italy

•  A stint at a large New York law firm after earning her paralegal degree from NYU made her realize she would rather be an attorney, so she attended New York Law at night and graduated Cum Laude.

You will find “small-town lawyer” Deb doing everything in the office from answering the phone to doing all of the case work.

“I believe it is important to have an attorney that gives individual attention to all clients. I answer the phone when clients call my office, and I know the status of all my clients’ cases since I am the only person working on their file. That is the level of service that I strive to provide,” she says.

Associations

• Member International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. 

• New Jersey Collaborative Law Group: executive board member, marketing committee member, education committee member; and membership chair

• New Jersey Bar Association

• New Jersey Bar Association Family Practice Section

• Hunterdon County Bar Association

• Hunterdon County Bar Association Family Practice Committee

• Early Settlement Panelist in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties

• Delaware River Towns Chamber of Commerce

• Co-facilitator: Ladies in Business – Lambertville Chapter