Collaborative Practice
The humane way to plan separations around tables and not through Solicitors letters and Court hearings…
We have helped hundreds of separating couples to agree their divorce or separation outside of Court.
Clients have come to Collaborative Practice to avoid an expensive Court process where they can achieve a fair outcome without destroying the family.
We understand it can be difficult to be in the same room as your former partner. We can talk about ways to manage this if this is a concern for you.
We would be happy to speak to you to discuss Collaborative Practice to see if this is the right process for you.
What is Collaborative Practice?
Collaborative Practice is a more amicable way to plan the separation as meetings take place around a table and not through Solicitors letters and Court hearings.
Both clients have control over the timings in this process. There can be long delays to get a hearing date. In Collaborative Practice the dates of the meetings can be scheduled at your convenience.
This is a process that discourages the clients to be litigants, which is important if you have children so that you can continue to co-parent in a positive way and helps to encourage respectful communication.
Each Solicitor and their clients make a pledge that they will not go to Court which aids the process to help find a resolution. If Collaborative Practice does not help to reach an agreement then the clients must instruct new lawyers if they then decide to litigate through Court.
What happens in Collaborative Practice?
In Collaborative Practice we help clients to identify common interests and develop outcomes for their interests.
Parties in Collaborative Practice often seek to resolve issues around children arrangements, divorce and finances, pre/post-nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements.
We have also worked with same sex couples to find a peaceful way to resolve their civil partnership dissolution and even at the start of their relationships to prepare pre and post civil partnership agreements.
Both lawyers will listen to the clients. We are here to help develop options, aid the negotiations and reduce any conflicts that may arise. Legal advice will be provided in the meetings and all issues are openly discussed and disclosed. Outside of the meetings we will work with the other lawyer to progress matters. Minutes are taken in each meeting which are then agreed by everyone. If there are things to work on in between meetings this can be actioned in advance of the next meeting.
What can we do to help you?
If you just need to reality check things, it may be that only one meeting is required. Another recent case took 10 months. On average, it takes around 5-6 months if there are both children and financial matters to resolve for your divorce or separation.
Collaborative Practice is the option for clients who would like to both receive legal advice separately, but where there is still a level of trust and where the clients want there to be or need there to be a good ongoing relationship. This could be where there are children or where there is a family business that still needs to operate.
We are also happy to work with third party neutrals who can work with areas outside of our expertise e.g. life coaches, pensions, financial options, financial planning and the wishes of the child.
Is Collaborative Practice the right option for you and your family?
Take time to consider if Collaborative Practice is the right option for you.
Do you want to reach a decision for the children that is in their best interests?
Do you want to work in a way that is creative and respectful to resolve the matters between you?
Do you want to keep control of the divorce process rather than go through the Courts and let the Judge decide for you which is then out of your control?
Do you want to tell the children when they are grown up that the divorce was carried out in an amicable and child centred way?
If you are answering yes to the above then Collaborative Practice may be the way you resolve your separation.
We would be happy to speak to you to discuss Collaborative Practice to see if this is the right process for you. You could either email us or call us on 020 3865 1535