Collaborative Practice
Collaborative Practice is a way to resolve your family conflict as smoothly as possible without court. It is a non-adversarial, holistic approach. The collaborative approach helps you identify and achieve your goals for yourself and your family. The focus is on open communication, dignity, honesty, and respect.
What are the benefits of a collaborative divorce?
- You remain in control of your separation process.
- It allows you to craft a customized solution that works for your unique family.
- Children’s interests come first.
- You can benefit from expert guidance to maximize your family finances and improve communication and co-parenting
- Most clients find collaborative divorce less stressful, more cost-effective, and faster than court.
How does the collaborative approach work?
You and your spouse both retain collaboratively trained lawyers. Your lawyers help you identify and prioritize what matters most to you. After that, you can begin to craft solutions that are right for your family.
In a collaborative divorce, both you and your spouse sign a special retainer called a participation agreement. The participation agreement sets out the ground rules for your settlement discussions. By signing the participation agreement, you agree to work together cooperatively, put your children first and provide full financial disclosure.
The participation agreement requires you and your spouse to retain new lawyers if the collaborative process fails and you require court. This means your lawyers negotiate without the threat of court.
The Collaborative Team
Another benefit of the collaborative approach is that you can involve other professionals, such as:
- A family professional to help with creating a parenting plan and improving your communication.
- A financial adviser who will help with your financial disclosure and evaluate your options to maximize your family’s finances.