What is the Collaborative Process?
The Collaborative Process is an innovative approach for separating couples to arrive at a separation agreement by working together, with professional support, including specially-trained, non-adversarial lawyers, to make a plan for their family’s future. The same principles that apply to a collaborative divorce process can also be used to arrive at a marriage contract or cohabitation agreement in a collaborative, non-adversarial way.
Benefits of the Collaborative Process
> Minimize the level of conflict - and maintain a good relationship with your ex, for your own sake, or for your kids' sake!
> Engage in creative-problem solving!
> Address what really matters to you, whether or not it's technically considered a "legal issue" (example: what will happen with the family dog?!).
> Get the benefit of legal advice without going to battle. By hiring collaborative lawyers you get a guarantee that your lawyers will not be posture, play games or fanning the flames!
> It is faster, cheaper, and more efficient than a court process (and often faster, cheaper and more efficient than many out-of-court settlements that use a traditional "adversarial" process).
> You get expert advice and support from the RIGHT professionals (Why take parenting advice from a lawyer? Or financial advice from a parenting coach?).
> You actually get to have real time conversations....does this seem too obvious to mention...? Or just a matter of common sense...? Well, think again. In "traditional" negotiations your lawyers usually work on your behalf through broken-telephone negotiations, but in the collaborative process most of our work is done by actually meeting as a group.
> You and your spouse will stay in the driver's seat and your professional team is there to help you navigate. Ultimately, the two of you get to decide on how you want your family to move forward to the next chapter.
> Engage in creative-problem solving!
> Address what really matters to you, whether or not it's technically considered a "legal issue" (example: what will happen with the family dog?!).
> Get the benefit of legal advice without going to battle. By hiring collaborative lawyers you get a guarantee that your lawyers will not be posture, play games or fanning the flames!
> It is faster, cheaper, and more efficient than a court process (and often faster, cheaper and more efficient than many out-of-court settlements that use a traditional "adversarial" process).
> You get expert advice and support from the RIGHT professionals (Why take parenting advice from a lawyer? Or financial advice from a parenting coach?).
> You actually get to have real time conversations....does this seem too obvious to mention...? Or just a matter of common sense...? Well, think again. In "traditional" negotiations your lawyers usually work on your behalf through broken-telephone negotiations, but in the collaborative process most of our work is done by actually meeting as a group.
> You and your spouse will stay in the driver's seat and your professional team is there to help you navigate. Ultimately, the two of you get to decide on how you want your family to move forward to the next chapter.