The first step is to get in contact with us, using the form on the contact page. Based on your location and needs, you will be connected with a Collaboratively Trained professional for an initial 15-minute chat. This can be done either individually or together with your partner/other parties.

During this call, we will discuss your needs, explore the best pathway for you, and help you understand more about the collaborative law process.

The core of your collaborative team will be a Collaborative Facilitator, who will oversee the process. You will also each have your own lawyers to advise you throughout.

As you navigate your the Collaborative Law process, you may choose to add other professionals to your team, such as:

Financial Planners

Accountants

Child Consultants

Family Therapists

The Facilitator is the keeper of your Collaborative Resolution Framework. After the initial intake assessment, they will continue working with you both individually and jointly to help you prepare for each stage.

They will also be available to attend meetings with other professionals, including your lawyer, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

Their role includes making sure that each party adheres to the agreed-upon timeline and holding everyone, including lawyers and other professionals, accountable.

They will chair all meetings, assist with brainstorming ideas, and work closely with each party to facilitate discussions.

The Facilitator will always available to answer any questions and provide additional coaching and support as needed.

As your central guide, the Facilitator helps you navigate your dispute and work towards a resolution.

Although it is uncommon in Collaborative Law Resolution Process, you can hit roadblocks and have disagreements that seem insurmountable. That does not mean the end of your Collaborative case.

One of the best things about Collaborative Resolution is that it allows you to choose your path, become creative, and seek resolutions on matters without following a strict set of formulas. 

We can also seek the assistance of mediators, barristers, and valuers to arbitrate a pinch point in negotiations. 

If, despite everyone’s best efforts—including yours, your lawyers, and experts—you are unable to reach an agreement and court becomes the only option, the lawyers and experts involved in the collaborative process must step back from the case.

Your collaborative lawyer will help refer you to another lawyer who can represent you in court, but they cannot represent you themselves or act as witnesses in your court proceedings. The same rules apply to all collaborative experts involved.

Collaborative Practice works best when parties have a level of respect for each other and are seeking a fair outcome. It doesn't mean there isn't conflict; however, each party must be willing to communicate openly about their needs.

It is not always the right fit. If one party refuses to share information or tries to use the process to pressure the other into accepting unfair terms, collaborative practice isn’t the way to go. Additionally, if there’s a history of abuse or domestic violence, this approach may not be suitable.

Together, the Facilitator and your lawyer can help determine if collaborative practice is appropriate and ensure your interests are safeguarded.

Mediation involves a neutral, independent professional who guides discussions between both parties, helping you work towards an agreement. The mediator does not offer legal advice to either side during these discussions.

In Collaborative Law, you have a Collaborative Facilitator who will build a Collaborative Resolution Framework. This framework includes each party having a lawyer who transparently provides legal advice shared with all parties. Other key experts may be jointly hired to provide context and ensure decisions are made with full information available. At the core of Collaborative Law is the Participation Agreement, signed by all parties and lawyers, committing not to litigate and go to court. This keeps all parties focused on resolution and allows for creative, family-focused solutions.

All Facilitators are also qualified as both a mediator and Collaborative Coach so can discuss with you both options.

Through court proceedings or litigation to resolve family disputes, you would go through a sequence of court conferences and hearings. This can take many months or, most likely, years before you have a final trial where a Judge would make a decision as to how your dispute will be resolved.

Through collaborative law practice, you, and the other party, your Facilitator and your respective lawyers work together, sometimes with other professionals such as valuers, accountants and child experts, to find out what each party wants and how that can be achieved.

The court is not involved in this process, and no documents are filed with the court during the ongoing negotiations. Once you have reached an agreement, you can choose to send that agreement to the court to be made into an order.

Each Collaborative case is different and will depend on your individual needs and the professionals involved in your matter. The process is focused on keeping momentum towards reaching a resolution.

As a consequence, there are a series of meetings, typically 3-5 meetings, even for the most complex of cases. This is achieved as a consequence of the transparency Collaborative Law offers. You always have a clear understanding of the legal advice all parties are receiving and are given the opportunity to ensure you have the necessary information to make clear decisions.

The cost savings in time enable you as a family, or business to move forward.

The financial cost, in nearly every case will be significantly lower than litigation, and is generally comparable to other alternative dispute resolution processes. The most important factor, is that you remain in control of the outcomes which is only possible through the unique legal framework Collaborative Law provides.

We encourage you to book an initial chat so you can have this and other questioned answered. Book now.