Collaborative Family Law
Collaborative Family Law is a relatively new way of dealing with family disputes. Each person appoints their own lawyer, but instead of conducting negotiations between you and the other person by letter or telephone, you meet together, with your lawyers, to work out things face to face.
A Collaborative approach can help at any stage of the separation or divorce. Amongst other things, it can be used to negotiate financial settlements; achieve pre and post nuptial agreements, as well as resolving contact and residence issues about children.
It is usual for the lawyers involved to match each other’s fees, so as to ensure that both you and the other person are not disadvantaged with regard to costs.
Those involved in the Collaborative method of addressing matters, sign up to a Participation Agreement, confirming that everyone will commit to resolving the issues without making applications to the Court.
The benefits of Collaborative Law include:-
- Better communication between you and the other person
- You and the other person decide the issues to be discussed and retain control of important decision making
- Tailor-made options can be explored in a relaxed way
- It can be quicker and less expensive than going to Court and asking the Judge to make Orders
Jackie Mensah is a Resolution trained collaborative lawyer who can discuss with you how Collaborative Law could work for you and your family.
