What is Collaborative Law
Collaborative law is a specialised Family Law method used to assist parties going through separation reach an agreement regarding parenting and or property matters.
Collaborative Law focuses on using mediation style meetings and consultation of neutral professionals to obtain a fair outcome for all parties. Each party is represented by a specially trained and qualified Collaborative Lawyer.
The Collaborative process does not involve going to Court and every effort is made by the parties and their Solicitors to prevent this from happening. In fact, should a matter not be able to be resolved through the Collaborative process, then each Solicitor is required to withdraw from representation of the matter.
What is the benefit of Collaborative Law?
Ultimately, Collaborative Law’s greatest strength in that it removes the ability of parties to threaten to commence litigation to achieve an outcome they desire and it strengthens the focus on negotiating issues to achieve a sound agreement.
Working within the Collaborative process helps to teach the parties how to calmly and effectively communicate moving forward. This is especially important where parties have young children and will be required to communicate with each other years to come, without the aid of Solicitors.
Effectively, the parties control the process, own the course that it takes, the costs involved and the outcome that is achieved. All of these factors which can be removed from them in the Court process.
