Collaborative family law is a non-adversarial process focused on resolving family disputes efficiently with minimal financial and emotional damage. There are three defining principles: 1) parties and lawyers agree not to litigate and focus on settlement, 2) the process is transparent with full information exchange, and 3) agreements are made through interest-based negotiation to find solutions meeting everyone's needs. The collaborative process assembles a team including lawyers, a divorce coach, and financial neutral to help negotiate in a respectful manner, maintain privacy, and resolve issues efficiently within an average of 18 weeks compared to 18 months for litigation.

1. Collaborative Family Law Defined Collaborative Family Law is a non-adversarial process focused on getting families from dispute to resolution efficiently, and with as little financial and emotional damage as possible, while securing an agreement which addresses their common and individual interests.

2. Three Defining Principles of Collaborative Law Clients and attorneys agree in advance that they will not take any contested issue to court. Number One

4. Three Defining Principles of Collaborative Law Number Two The process is “transparent.” Everyone agrees to an informal exchange of all relevant information. All experts are neutral and exempt from the court process.

5. All Collaborative Law clients and lawyers commit to respond truthfully to inquiries, to provide relevant information to the other side, and to correct mistakes made by either side.

7. Much of the work done in Collaborative cases occurs in joint meetings with both parties, both lawyers, and relevant team members present.

8. Three Defining Principles of Collaborative Law Number Three Agreements are made through a process of “interest-based” negotiation, where everyone involved is asked to find creative solutions that work for the family. Husband’s priorities Wife’s priorities Children’s needs Family’s future

11. The Collaborative Team Husband Wife Husband’s Lawyer Wife’s Lawyer Divorce Coach Financial Neutral

12. The Collaborative Team is structured so that the most qualified, least expensive professional is doing what he or she does best when the services are needed.

18. Most divorcing couples are kind, decent and intelligent people who want to maintain their self-respect and dignity. These are good people at the worst time in their lives. Often, they are not proud of their behavior. They would like to feel that they have treated their spouse fairly, done what was best for their children, and amicably resolved their differences.

19. Some things to like about Collaborative Law Efficiency and Self-Determination Most clients are used to controlling their lives and don’t like having to follow others’ rules, especially if the rules don’t make sense to them.

20. Clients say … They want to get through the divorce process as quickly and painlessly as possible.

21. Our statistics show … The average collaborative divorce is completed in 18 WEEKS ; the average litigated divorce takes 18 MONTHS .

24. Some things to like about Collaborative Law Future Relationships are Preserved Having to testify in court almost always assures that the spouses will be enemies.

25. And asking friends, business associates and family to choose sides often leads to relationship damage that can’t be repaired.