Restructuring Your Family Using a Collaborative Law Process
Collaborative law is a process of resolving family law conflicts using well-developed cooperative strategies in a safe environment, rather than adversarial techniques and litigation in the courtroom. Collaborative law has three fundamental building blocks:
- An agreement not to go to court
- Open and honest communication and disclosure of all relevant information
- A shared goal of reaching solutions that encompass the highest priorities of both spouses and their children
An important premise of collaborative law is that a solution arrived at through active input and participation by both parties is a solution most likely to be fair and enduring. Contact us at 952-806-9900.
How Does the Collaborative Law Process Work?
Each party in the process retains a collaborative law attorney and the parties together often retain a neutral mental health professional who serves as a communication facilitator. A framework employing the following essential principles of collaborative law is agreed upon by all participants at the outset of a case:
- honesty — full and complete disclosure of all assets, debts and income
- satisfying the interests of both parties
- cooperation
- integrity
- professionalism
- dignity
- respect
- candor
Collaborative attorneys and the communication facilitator assist clients with identifying their goals, interests, needs and concerns. All relevant information and documentation is then gathered and analyzed using neutral experts where needed.
Collaborative law attorneys and the communication facilitator are trained and skilled at managing meetings with all participants to avoid anxiety and conflict, and to build client competency, confidence and success in negotiations. At meetings designed to resolve disputes and reach agreement, collaborative professionals focus the energies of their clients on generating a wide-range of options to disputed issues, and employing analysis, reasoning and principled negotiations to choose solutions best for both parties.
Throughout the process, collaborative law professionals support the parties to operate out of their best and highest interests rather than acting on feelings surrounding the dispute or breakup of the relationship.
Attorney Linda K. Wray is an experienced collaborative lawyer and leader in the field of collaborative law. She will guide you through the process with skill and sensitivity, with a focus on your financial and emotional well-being and that of your family.
Contact Us
For more information, or to schedule an appointment with an experienced collaborative lawyer regarding divorce, please contact us.
