Collaborative Law

 
 
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In a collaborative case, couples work with a team of specially trained professionals to avoid the arbitrary and uncertain outcomes of litigation and achieve a settlement that best meets the specific needs of both parties and their children.

The process typically includes a series of meetings where parties and professionals meet to discuss the issues, make needed interim arrangements, and plan for gathering information. Information is exchanged and clarified and possible options are brainstormed for resolution of conflicts. Negotiations are based on finding options that best serve the entire family and strive for maintaining positive relationships in the future.

The collaborative team works with clients to carefully tailor the scope of the work to ensure an efficient process and outcome. As such, professionals only attend meetings requiring their particular expertise. The specific roles of the professionals on the Collaborative Team are the Family Law Attorney, Divorce Coach, Child Specialist, and Financial Specialist, all of whom maintain a primary focus on the needs of the children and welfare of the family overall while helping parents provide their children with necessary emotional support and healthy co-parenting.


Central tenets of the Collaborative Process include:

  • A promise to reach a resolution without court intervention or the threat of court intervention.

  • A pledge that if either party seeks court intervention both attorneys must withdraw from representation.

  • A promise by all participants to negotiate in good faith by remaining open and flexible, disclosing all pertinent information and using constructive and respectful communication methods.

  • An agreement that all communications and documents generated during the Collaborative Process are inadmissible in any future court proceedings.