Collaborative Law is an integrated cross-disciplinary system for problem solving in a separation and divorce situations. The MacLean Family law lawyers coordinate their work with other collaborative professionals who specialize in addressing emotional and financial problems of divorce. Other professionals may include communication coaches, financial planners, psychologists and child specialists. Everyone works together as a team, seeking to de-escalate conflict and to help the couple or family restructure in a positive manner.
Good faith negotiations and resolutions
Collaborative law encourages and in fact mandates that the process be transparent or open and full disclosure between the parties in order that everyone can fairly, reasonably and fully negotiate a successful, good faith resolution. This process is done outside of court and is a true team approach with open and honest communication. Each lawyer is independent from the other and represents only one party in the process. No one is allowed to use threats of abandoning the process or resorting to litigation as a way of forcing settlement. In the event, that either party chooses to withdraw from the process and resort to litigation each of the lawyers must withdraw and cannot continue to act in the litigation process.
Each of the parties with the lawyers sign a binding agreement defining the scope and sole purpose of the lawyers’ representation: to help the parties reach an agreement that meets the needs of the parties using creative problem solving, conflict resolution techniques and good faith negotiation.
Once an agreement (separation, divorce, support or parenting agreement) has been reached using the collaborative family law process, it becomes a legal contract.
If you would like to use a collaborative law process to resolve your separation, divorce or parenting arrangements call one of the top-ranked lawyers trained in mediation and arbitration at MacLean Law.
