What is Collaborative Law?
Collaborative law provides you with a way of resolving family issues without having to go to court.
Under the collaborative law process you each appoint your own collaboratively trained lawyer and the parties and your respective collaborative lawyers meet together to discuss issues face to face in four way meetings. It is a process that enables separating or divorcing couples to resolve issues in a non-confrontational way through open discussion, whilst being supported by their lawyers. The collaborative law process can be used to resolve all aspects of divorce or separation including financial and children issues.
You must both sign an agreement (known as a participation agreement) in which you confirm that you will work together and make a commitment to resolve matters without going to court. This means that you are both are absolutely committed to and invested in finding the best solutions by agreement, rather than through court proceedings. The approach is client-centred, and can often help to build better communication which will assist you in the future.
Our approach
Our collaborative lawyers are all specifically trained in the collaborative approach and are capable of promoting solution focused negotiation.
We regularly work with other professionals and third parties, such as family consultants, pension on divorce experts (PODEs) or independent financial advisors, who are able to join the collaborative process to help you both work together, explore your options and make an informed decision on possible solutions regarding issues relating to children, financial issues and other matters arising from separation.
Our collaborative lawyers are all solicitors as well as accredited mediators and therefore have considerable experience working day in, day out, with families to help them resolve matters amicably and to help them find solutions. They also include child-inclusive mediators who are accustomed with working directly with children. This gives them the skills to help you get the most out of the collaborative chance and give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome.
Contacting us
If you would like to meet with one of our mediators or simply discuss the process further, then please get in touch using whatever method is easiest for you. You can use the form on our website or email us at mail@goodmanray.com. Alternatively, feel free to ring us on 020 7608 1227 or you can call the mediator at Goodman Ray directly using the direct dial on their profile.
