What is collaborative family law?

The Collaborative Family Law process is a new way of resolving family issues on divorce or relationship breakdown.

The aim of collaborative law is to look for practical and amicable solutions to family issues without involving the Court.

Each party still appoints their own lawyer so still benefits from independent legal advice but instead of negotiating by letter or telephone the parties and their lawyers conduct a series of roundtable meetings in order to work things out face to face.

The collaborative process creates a safe environment in which the parties can express their concerns, and with the benefit of independent legal advice can negotiate a resolution.

The process can be used in relation to the resolution of both financial issues, and also issues concerning children, and can avoid the aggravation, delay and considerable expense of litigated Court proceedings.