This is a guest post by Rick Ortiz from Dads Divorce for Dads who need effective legal help with their divorces.

If it’s true that Love bears many similarities to a game, then it must also be true that being prepared and having a feeling of control of one’s position on the playing field are very important aspects of performing well. Perhaps there is no time other than when your team is behind, disoriented and otherwise being trampled that this feeling of confidence in your resources is more important.

The end of a relationship whether through separation or divorce is almost always difficult, and a large part of the feeling of difficulty is a result of the fact that the relationship however dysfunctional or broken it might have been, was in some way a safe, consistent place.  And now it is over, and the fear of the unknown is almost always intimidating. The men who come to our site, DadsDivorce.com, magnify the intensity of the romantic breakup as a result of the fact that the relationship in question is a marriage and supposed to last forever, there are co-mingled finances as well as emotions, and often, there are children involved.

A large part of the impact that our men feel when going through divorce is due to this loss of control that often accompanies it. Undisputed numbers suggest that over 85% of all divorces are initiated by the woman, and so we guys are often blindsided and forced to deal with this major life change with little or no preparation.

This means that we must then make decisions regarding attorneys and other members of our divorce team (you knew that it’s best, if possible to assemble a team, didn’t you?) on the fly. The fact that there is little time for preparation before we must hit the ground running (she’s already cruising along toward marital dissolution at 100mph), that we must respond thoughtfully and intelligently to her and her lawyer’s demands and requests for information, payment, and whatever else, that we hope our attorney is responsive and truly working to protect our best interests and the best interests of our children, that we are probably dealing with the emotional reality of somehow working this out for ourselves and with our children so that they continue to feel loved and secure while the real world caves in around them.

In an effort to manage this overwhelming sense of loss of control, DadsDivorce.com sponsoring partner, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., a law firm focusing on men going through divorce, is featuring a new addition to their already comprehensive services that is accessible via the DadsDivorce website.

A good divorce attorney, like a good doctor, empowers his client. He does not hide behind the veil of convenience simply because interacting with a client takes time.  It is important to have a legal as well as psychological, emotional and parental game plan if it is at all possible. But, given that most men have very little time for thoughtful planning, it is incredibly important that the lines of dialogue be open and free-flowing during these difficult times.

As a client, you will likely have many questions, comments or suggestions as to how your divorce case is managed.  In addition, the client deserves to know exactly what he is being billed for and what the balance is that remains in his account.  As well, the client needs organizational tools to help him build his case and to keep him informed of important upcoming dates, meetings, and court appearances.

The technology that allows a divorce client to interact with his or her attorney is emerging. Now, confidential files and lines of communication are able to be opened and accessed securely. With this in mind, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., is introducing their Client Collaboration Center on the DadsDivorce.com website. There, clients of Cordell & Cordell, P.C. will find immediate 24/7 access to their client records, an attorney/client forum that allows them to pose questions to their attorney at any time, a custody calendar that allows them to organize their lives around their children while keeping track of child support payments, doctors visits, school information and additional items, as well as all client billing information. The Cordell & Cordell Client Collaboration Center returns the control and confidence to a client who otherwise might feel out of his comfort zone and continually playing catch-up.

Most features of the Client Collaboration Center require representation by Cordell & Cordell, P.C.; however, the very valuable Online Custody Calendar is free and accessible to anyone who registers. It allows divorcing parents to keep records regarding their children, receipts, important dates, notes, and professional information regarding their children’s school, activities and medical care.

It is important for the sanity of an individual that he or she feel a sense of balance and control over their lives in order to get through the difficulties of a break-up or divorce. Counselors, networks of friends, and family can certainly help, but in the case of divorce or when child custody or assets are at stake as well as emotions, it is important to find an attorney with whom you can feel connected, in synch, and empowered.