25 years of collaborative family law
The area of family law known as collaborative practice is celebrating 25 years of assisting clients to resolve disputes and reach settlement during separation and divorce in a respectful way.
Here at Alliance Family Law we have a special interest in collaborative practice, also known as collaborative family law, collaborative divorce, no-court divorce or peaceful divorce–and lately, possibly also ‘conscious uncoupling’!
Collaborative practice is a process of resolving issues and disputes in family law without proceeding to the courts, but with each party having access to their own lawyers and other professionals along the way. Both parties agree to stay out of court, and the emphasis is on collaboration and cooperation rather than confrontation. With the help and expertise of a team which may include professionals from financial advisors to child specialists, couples aim to find mutually agreeable solutions to the many issues that arise out of the ending of a marriage. The welfare of children is kept at the forefront of parenting discussions, information is shared and issues are discussed openly and honestly. Both parties agree not to initiate an adversarial process while within the collaborative one. The ultimate outcome is a more dignified and respectful resolution, with conflict reduced and the negative impact on you and your kids is minimised.
If you are thinking of separating, collaborative divorce can replace the litigation route with a much more efficient process, with smarter use of resources and cooperative methods, and more workable solutions than an adversarial process would bring.
Less time, often less money and definitely less stress—no wonder it is becoming more popular!
To figure out if a collaborative family law is for you, please do not hesitate to give us a call here at Alliance Family Law. We will work together with you to find the best possible solutions for your family as you transition out of your marriage. For LGBT couples who cannot marry legally yet, collaborative practice also offers a mechanism for reaching legally-enforceable resolutions of issues. Call us today on (02) 6223 2400.
In one of Cristina’s most successful parenting collaborations, the matter was resolved in the first meeting! Both lawyers worked hard to show clients that their interests were in fact aligned, that the clients realised they wanted the same goal, and were able to agree to terms within 2 hours.
Cristina has noted that often some matters which one would think are not suitable for collaboration are in fact ideal – if there is no trust, how much better would you feel if you were able to agree to receive the last 15 years of bank statements, not the last 2 or 3 as foreseen in formal Family Law Rules?
The clients who participate in collaborative law are almost all pleased with the outcome. One recently told Cristina ‘It was always going to be hard. However, with collaborative law, it was less hard than I expected it to be.’
