Working with a
Collaborative Law Attorney

Collaborative Law is a cooperative approach to resolving family law matters without going to court. Unlike litigation, where a Judge makes the final decision, Collaborative Law empowers the parties to maintain control over the outcome while working together to reach solutions that are tailored to their family’s unique needs.

In the Collaborative Law process, both parties are represented by attorneys who are specially trained in collaborative practice. Instead of preparing for trial, the attorneys commit to helping the parties reach an agreement through open communication, respectful negotiation, and a problem-solving mindset. Everyone involved signs a participation agreement confirming that they will resolve their disputes without resorting to court intervention.

This process often involves a team-based approach. In addition to the attorneys, neutral professionals such as financial specialists, child specialists, or counselors may be included to provide guidance and support in their areas of expertise. This allows families to address financial, emotional, and parenting concerns in a holistic way.

Collaborative Law offers many advantages, including privacy, reduced conflict, and the opportunity to create flexible solutions that work for the entire family. Because the process focuses on cooperation instead of confrontation, it often results in healthier long-term relationships between the parties—especially important when children are involved. By choosing Collaborative Law, families can move forward with clarity and dignity, avoiding the costs, delays, and uncertainty of litigation.

contact our team today

Frequently Asked Questions

Collaborative law offers an alternative to the traditional, often adversarial, family law process. The collaborative process is designed to help couples resolve family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and property division, through cooperation rather than conflict.

While both Mediation and Collaborative Law are alternatives to litigation, the primary difference is that the parties agree to not engage in the litigation process via a signed agreement at the very beginning of the Collaborative Law process. In contrast, Mediation is often utilized before (with the possibility of a lawsuit coming) or during the litigation process, as a Mediation can also be Court-ordered.

Collaborative Law is utilized in various areas of law, including Family Law. Therefore, anyone enduring a family law dispute such as a divorce, property division, child custody, child support, alimony, and other legal issues can benefit from the Collaborative Law process.

The Collaborative Law process works best for couples who are willing to communicate openly, share information honestly, and prioritize long-term solutions over short-term wins. It is particularly effective when children are involved, as it minimizes conflict and fosters cooperative co-parenting.

The timeline varies depending on the legal matter’s complexity, how quickly both sides gather information and documentation, and how many third party professionals are involved (such as a child therapist, a business valuator, a financial advisor, etc.. Some cases can be resolved in a few months or even a few weeks, which is often faster than going through the court system.

If the parties are simply unable to resolve any or all of the pending legal matters or if either party decides to stop the collaborative process, both Collaborative Law attorneys must withdraw from the case. Each party can hire a new attorney or represent themselves to proceed with litigation. One important caveat: any details of a settlement offer cannot be used in Court as evidence.

Generally, yes. By avoiding drawn-out litigation battles, discovery disputes, and Court delays, the collaborative law process often proves beneficial from a financial, emotional and time perspective.

Download Collaborative Law FAQ – English Download Collaborative Law FAQ – Spanish