COLLABORATIVE FAMILY LAW

 
 

The Collaborative Family Law process involves the two parties and their lawyers working together, as a team, to reach a resolution. If necessary we can engage other professionals such as a financial neutral accountant, financial planner, or counsellor to join the team and assist in reaching a resolution. This process is conducted over several structured meetings and we will provide you with a fixed fee quote.

 

What is Collaborative Family Law?

• Collaborative Family Law is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

• It involves two people and their lawyers working together to resolve a dispute.

• They attempt to reach agreement in good faith and with full disclosure and co-operation.

• The key difference from litigation is that the parties sign a contract agreeing not to go to court or use threats of court.

• Everyone agrees to work together as a team.

• We can include other professionals in the process such as a financial planner, accountant or family counsellor.

• Instead of the lawyers providing advice to their clients behind closed doors and taking a positional bargaining approach, both lawyers provide advice in front of each other as part of round table meetings.

How does Collaborative Law work?

  • The two parties and their lawyers join together in a series of four-way meetings with the goal of reaching agreement together.

  • The parties and their lawyers engage in a discussion about the parties’ common important interests which will form the basis for the subsequent negotiations

  • The parties and their lawyers will identify the questions that need to be answered by both parties;

  • Both parties will work together to gather the relevant information based on the common interests;

  • From the information that has been gathered, the parties and their lawyers will create the maximum number of options available to both parties;

  • The parties will work together to evaluate the available options and shortlist the best ones, including receiving legal advice from the lawyers as part of the four-way meetings.

  • The parties then negotiate on the finer details of the best option to come to an acceptable agreement and how best to formalise that agreement;

  • The parties have closure on their Family Law matter and are able to move forward with confidence.

What are the benefits:

• You will save a great deal of time or money!

• The process is very structured yet allows you to opening discuss and resolve more issues in a safe environment.

• It allows you and your ex partner to make every attempt to remain amicable moving forward.

• It takes away the stress of a contested divorce.

• You have greater control of the situation and can create very practical solutions.

  • You usually share the cost with your spouse.

  • No court

What are the Costs

• We offer packages for the entire process if you engage Flourish Family Law. This cost will usually be shared between you and your spouse.

Contact us now for a free no obligation information session.