Jaclyn Zimmerman is a founding partner of the Miller, Zimmerman & Evans firm. After fifteen years of legal practice and work on high conflict cases, both at the district court level and up to the Iowa Supreme Court, Jaclyn offers only resolution focused work, which may not be an option for every family as both parties need to opt in. Cases where adults may disagree in their conclusions, as to “fair” property distributions and “best interest of children” determinations, for example, but are committed to navigating the process with integrity are best suited for Jaclyn’s practice. Jaclyn offers the following services:
Mediator Guided Divorce
We often receive calls from prospective clients want one lawyer to handle the divorce. Our ethical rules bar this. However, both spouses can work with a mediator and our ethical rules allow mediators to have an ongoing relationship and multiple meetings with clients. In this process, Jaclyn works with both parties to identify areas of agreement, which can be reduced to an enforceable settlement agreement, and to identify areas of disagreement and plans for navigating impasse.
Savings to financial cost by choosing this process are obvious, but of even greater value is minimizing negative emotional impact to the family. Lawyers are trained to assess risk and remove emotion from analysis. While this left-brain approach may seem ideal, it effectively means many lawyers detach and fail to appreciate root issues or recognize when something as simple as a break and reconvening another time, can keep the process intact and moving forward. You can also imagine the negative impact to a co-parenting relationship when proceeding to trial involved shaming, criticizing and blaming your co-parent.
Additional Practice Areas
Jaclyn additionally offers:
In her time away from the office, Jaclyn enjoys time with her children, is an avid reader, nature lover, and yoga practitioner. Jaclyn is proud to limit her practice to resolution focused services and to guide families through a process where they can begin to accept truths, including differences, identify choices, develop personal responsibility, and begin to heal. The adversarial process can be ugly. You have the power to elect against it.
