The Collaborative Law Approach
Collaborative Law, known in some states as "Collaborative Practice," "Collaborative Divorce," or "Collaborative Family Law," is a solution-oriented alternative to traditional divorce. Instead of focusing on assessing blame for problems, couples focus on solutions to problems that best fit their competing and shared needs and interests.
What is Collaborative Law?
Collaborative Law helps families settle divorce cases without going to court. The Collaborative Law approach offers couples facing divorce the following advantages:
- Helps families divide their assets and businesses without destroying them
- Improves opportunities to restructure a family after a divorce without devastation
- Allows for creative solutions that may expand the “pie” that is being divided rather than diminishing it or using it up on divorce costs
- Provides divorcing couples with a more family- and business-friendly way to restructure their relationships
- Provides privacy and flexibility to clients
In short, the Collaborative Law approach is a settlement process that focuses on helping families find their way to respectful resolution. The Collaborative process focuses on creating a safe environment for the parties to express, negotiate and resolve conflict without going to court.
While a marriage may be ending, the Collaborative Law process recognizes that relationships and obligations often continue – especially when children are involved. It allows spouses to formulate agreements that focus on their most important individual and mutual goals. This process helps all family members move forward in a positive way – focused on the future, rather than dwelling on arguments and disputes of the past.