Collaborative Law

Divorce and family law disputes can be the most difficult, contentious and divisive experience a person will ever have. Collaborative Law is a new model for people to work as a team with attorneys and other appropriate professionals to resolve their disputes without going to court. Litigation is a win-lose paradigm; generally speaking, it is a winner take all system. Collaborative Law is a win-win paradigm; it is designed to develop solutions that meet the legitimate needs of both parties. The solutions are created by the clients, not the courts. Each party has the support, advice and protection of their own lawyer and yet neither party uses their lawyer as a weapon against the other. The lawyers and their clients, along with any allied professionals that the team determines are necessary, will work toward mutually acceptable and beneficial settlement without turning decision making authority over to a judge. The process requires all parties to be transparent and to disclose all relevant information. Solutions are reached that address the highest priorities of both clients.

Children are the greatest recipient of the benefits of this process, and everyone wins when they keep control over their own process of divorce or other dispute and retain their dignity, respect and compassion for the other individual in the process.

There are many advantages of the collaborative process over traditional litigation:
You control the process, not your lawyers and the judges.
Children are less likely to be negatively affected by a divorce handled collaboratively.
You and the other party create the solutions to solve your legal problems with the advice of the Collaborative team.
The process fosters mutual respect among the parties and maintains personal and family dignity.
Transparency and open communication removes the scary aspect of litigation where both parties appear to be holding their cards to gain an advantage.
You and the other party will learn skills for communicating that will be useful long after the process is over.
The process allows you to end one phase of your life with dignity while you safely move in to a new phase, without damaging yourself, your children or the other party in the process.
Successful collaborative cases are less likely to return to court in the future for modifications or contested issues.
Parties feel more positive about their participation and the results from the process than in traditional litigation.

For further questions about Collaborative Law call us today and click here for general information from the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. We also have more information on collaborative law at our Resources and Links page.