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Make a difficult journey easier

Collaborative law makes a dignified separation and divorce possible.

Collaborative family law offers an alternative to traditional, litigation-based separation and divorce. This established and effective model allows couples to avoid the stress, expense and conflict of court. Our team can assist you in reaching a mutual agreement on parenting time, financial, and property issues.

How collaborative law works

As a couple, you make a commitment to exchange information freely and make resolutions around shared goals instead of going to court.
Each of you has a collaborative lawyer.
You can access other professionals specializing in finance, relationship coaching, and child well-being, depending on your needs.
Together with your collaborative practice team, you’ll arrive at a separation and divorce agreement.

Is a collaborative approach right for you?

A collaborative approach to separation and divorce works well under the following conditions:

You and your spouse agree not to go to court.
Even though you might not agree on everything, you are both willing to work together to come to a resolution that works best for your family.
You want to maximize your privacy by staying out of court.
You want to make the best decisions possible in a legal agreement that will affect your family for years to come.
You want to acquire the tools the two of you will need to navigate future relationships and co-parenting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Collaborative Law

What if my spouse does not want to participate?

If your spouse is willing to attend an initial meeting, we can explain the potential benefits of collaborative law. Ultimately, however, your spouse needs to be willing to participate for collaborative practice to work.

Do I need a full collaborative team?

Not necessarily. Having access to various professionals can help with resolving legal and other issues involved in family restructuring. Who becomes involved will depend on what you need. The professionals we engage most often include:

Financial Specialists

To assist with valuing family assets and planning for your financial future after separation.

Communication and Parenting Coaches

To assist with developing a co-parenting plan and communication guidelines and working through any emotional obstacles preventing the two of you from collaborating.

Child Specialists

To assist with enabling your child or children’s needs to be part of the collaboration, if appropriate.

Is collaborative law more expensive than settling my divorce through the courts?

A collaborative law process is often less expensive than a contested court process. The professionals involved are focused on helping you and your spouse reach a mutually beneficial agreement. The court process often fuels conflict and disagreement, resulting in more time and expense. You will also learn communication and negotiation skills as part of the collaborative process, which can prevent future court proceedings regarding parenting time agreements.