What is Collaborative Law?

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

How Does the Collaborative Law Process Work?

Each party in the process retains a Collaborative Law attorney. A framework employing the following essential principles of Collaborative Law is agreed upon by all participants:

• honesty (full and complete disclosure of all assets, debts and income);
• satisfying the interests of both parties;
• cooperation;
• integrity;
• professionalism;
• dignity;
• respect; and
• candor.

At the outset of a case, Collaborative attorneys assist their clients with identifying their interests and needs in the matter at hand, and with gathering information and employing neutral experts to analyze the information if necessary.

Collaborative Law attorneys 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 Law attorneys focus the energies of their clients on generating a wide-range of options and solutions to disputed issues, and employing analysis, reasoning and principled negotiations to choose solutions best for both parties.

At all times throughout the process, Collaborative Law attorneys support the parties to operate out of their best and highest interests rather than acting on feelings surrounding the dispute or breakup of a relationship. Central to the concept of Collaborative Law is the view that a solution arrived at through active input and participation by both parties is the solution most likely to be fair and enduring.