How Collaborative Law Can Take the Confrontation out of Divorce - By: Tim Bishop

If you are ending your marriage or partnership, a solution that is quick and amicable will benefit both parties. Many marriages can finish in anger, with personal failings on both sides causing deep frustration. This can have an effect on both your health and your family. In particular, moving forward can be difficult if you have built up large legal costs. The collaborative divorce process can help you reach a fair and mutually agreed settlement, easing the pain of the end of your marriage.

Collaborative law involves the holding of "four way" meetings between yourself and your partner, as well as solicitors for you both. Your solicitors will arrange either face-to-face or telephone meetings. You each meet with your respective solicitors prior to the meetings to set the agenda for discussions and talk about any points you would like to raise during the meeting. Collaborative law is different from going to court, as there is no timeframe set for a settlement - instead as many meetings as are needed can take place. Outside professionals, such as financial advisers or social workers, can be brought in to help create a settlement that suits yourself and your partner.

Collaborative law places an emphasis on face to face discussion, and negotiation, rather than the traditional route of postal correspondence seen in traditional divorce cases. Lawyers are on hand during meetings to offer legal advice, and can meet with you at regular stages throughout the process to discuss your progress, and a plan for future meetings is set during the four way discussions. Collaborative law helps to keep negotiations dignified and calm, as opposed to the atmosphere of a courtroom which can often be confrontational. Collaborative law can be very helpful when it comes to ending your relationship on good terms, as you remain in control of your own decisions and affairs, rather than relying on a judge to make the decisions.

If you are seeking to maintain a relationship with your partner post marriage, collaborative law may well be able to help you. Collaborative law aims to help you reach an out of court settlement that suits you both, rather than getting involved in repetitive arguments and raising grievances. Particularly where children are concerned, collaborative law can help you underline your parenting responsibilities, and move onto the next phase of your life as swiftly and cordially as possible. There is no simple way to finish a relationship without pain, but collaborative law can help you transition to life post-marriage without retaining the unpleasant courtroom atmosphere.

If you are considering divorce, we recommend that you think seriously about hiring a solicitor experienced in collaborative law. Collaborative law can make most divorces much less painful. 

About the Author

Bonallack and Bishop are a firm of Andover Divorce Solicitors with a team of people experienced in Collaborative Law. Tim Bishop is senior partner at the firm, which he has grown by 1000% in 12 years. He is responsible for all major strategic decisions and has firm plans to continue developing the firm in the future.

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