Collaborative Law

  The Collaborative Law process engages a professional team consisting of a lawyer for each party plus financial and facilitation neutrals to help you: learn everything you need to know to make the best decisions about your future; retain control over your divorce or other family matters; keep your dispute private; plan a better future for your re-structured family; instead of battling each other in court.

Those who wish to dissolve their marriage in an amicable manner with the assistance of trained professionals may wish to explore the collaborative dissolution process.

The collaborative practice of law is a voluntary dispute resolution process that can begin at any time before or after a party files a petition for dissolution of marriage with a court. In the collaborative practice of law, both parties and their attorneys sign a collaborative participation agreement that describes the nature and scope of the matter; the parties voluntarily disclose all relevant and material information; the parties use good faith efforts to negotiate; and the parties may engage joint neutral mental health and financial professionals to assist with their negotiations.

The goal of the collaborative process is for the parties to enter into a written settlement agreement that addresses all issues, which may include a parenting plan, division of their assets and debts, alimony, child support and attorney’s fees and costs. Should the collaborative process be unsuccessful in whole or in part, the parties must discharge the attorneys and other professionals and begin a contested dissolution proceeding through the court.

If you would like more information about the collaborative practice of family law, you should search for a collaboratively trained family law attorney near you.

Source: Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals and The Florida Bar