Audra Bennett

What is Collaborative Family Law?

The Collaborative Family Law Process is a cooperative approach to negotiating and settling issues arising from a family separation based on understanding you and your spouse's needs without going to court.  Your spouse and you are responsible for information gathering and solution creation.

Both collaborative lawyers help you and your spouse to:

• find and focus on your common interests;

• understand each other's concerns;

• exchange information;

• explore a wide range of possible choices; and

• reach solutions acceptable to both of you.

In the Collaborative Family Law Process both clients will:

• treat each other with respect;

• listen to each others' perspectives, interests and concerns;

• explore all possible choices

• let go of the past in order to focus on the future.

The collaborative lawyers, having agreed to not take part in any litigation that may occur if an agreement is not reached, efficiently focus their time and effort solely on settlement, rather than posturing or preparing documents or themselves for court. Everyone, including the lawyers, are focused on creating together a stable, fair, legal agreement. You, your spouse and both collaborative lawyers work as a team.

Collaborative law is a highly specialized method of negotiating developed specifically for the emotionally charged, complex and nerve-wracking negotiations that must occur when one or both members of a family decide they can no longer, for whatever reason, live together. It generally takes much less time and money to settle matters using the Collaborative Family Law Process.