What is Collaborative Law?

Collaborative law is a successful dispute resolution method designed to assist you to stay in control of your own decisions and the decisions that affect your family without going to court.

In collaborative practice you and your solicitor make a commitment to negotiate and settle agreements using a problem-solving approach and away from the courts.

It is highly suitable for the resolution of both financial and parenting issues arising from separation and divorce. It focuses on the needs of both parties and your children.

You, your partner and your solicitor all sign a Participation Agreement setting out the ground rules for the collaborative process and agreeing that if either client commences court proceedings, both collaborative lawyers will be disqualified from representing either client.

The negotiations take place at "4 way" face-to-face meetings between you, your partner and the lawyers. Correspondence between lawyers is kept to a minimum. By being involved throughout the negotiations, you and your partner retain control, the scope for misunderstandings is minimised. You and your partner will be assisted in communicating with each other in a non-confrontational way, which is important if you are parenting children together.

In Collaborative Family Law we agree to work together to help you to make parenting and financial decisions arising from separation and divorce and you are encouraged to enlist other experts to provide information and advice.

The Collaborative solicitor will work with you, the other solicitor and their client to seek out and to negotiate a resolution to the dispute that is acceptable to all parties, cost effective and lasting.

I am a trained Collaborative Lawyer and specially trained to utilise my skills in client representation, negotiation and problem solving to help you create a fair and lasting agreement. I also work towards maintaining a dignified and respectful approach to ongoing relationships especially when there are children involved.

Call me now on (02) 4862 3023 for a collaborative law information pack, a list of other collaborative practitioners and process outline. A smart approach to problem solving in a legal setting