What is Collaborative Law?

Collaborative Law is a process for resolving family law disputes outside of the courthouse. Collaborative Law (CL) is:

1. Confidential

- the entire CL process is done in private offices

2. Client Driven

- CL is done through a series of meetings based on your own schedule

3. Efficient

- CL allows you to set the pace of the process

4. Child Focused

- CL encourages co-parenting and communication about the children

5. Controlled

- with CL, you to make the decisions on how to restructure your family

6. Independent

- CL prevents the court from interfering with settlement

7. Cost Effective

- CL is less expensive than contested "war of the roses/scorched earth" litigation

8. Team Based

- CL involves putting together a team to help you solve your problems

9. Better

- CL is similar to mediation, but quite different

10. Creative

- CL allows the team to develop creative ideas in light of goals and needs, not in light of codes and rules

11. Streamlined

- CL saves paper, time and money by not playing courtroom war

12. Driven

- CL is aimed toward settlement from the very beginning

13. Focused

- CL is focused on settling differences, not proving the other person is bad or wrong

14. Healing

- CL allows you to heal broken parts of your family and move on with your life