COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE LAW

The parties and their attorneys sign an agreement that they will not start a legal action or go to court. Attorneys and their clients meet in a series of four-way meetings to reach resolution of all the issues in the divorce. They work together to share financial information, to discuss their children's interests, and to make their decisions in an atmosphere of amicable collective problem solving. The parties take the lead, assisted by their attorneys who are there to provide legal information and advice. The advantages of this process are similar to those of mediation. A further advantage is that the parties benefit from the advice of two attorneys simultaneously. The result is a legal Separation Agreement which is incorporated into the judgement of divorce.

In the event that the collaborative process breaks down, the parties obtain different lawyers and go to court. Thus, there is an incentive to have a successful outcome on the part of the couple as well as their attorneys.

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Marilyn A. Westlake, Attorney At Law
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