Strong emotions, challenging communication, and/or more complexity might cause both participants to want legal advice and advocates, without the threat of going to court.

• Involves direct negotiation between the parties, in joint meetings, with lawyers present and participating
• Involves committing not to go to court to resolve differences and signing a Participation Agreement
• Involves keeping the interests of the children the top priority
• Involves exchanging all relevant information voluntarily
• Works best for parties who value privacy
• Works best when parties want to control the outcome of their dispute
• Works best when parties have a strong interest to minimize harm to their children
• Works well in both low conflict and high conflict cases
• Works well in uncomplicated and complicated cases
• Does not work as well if one person purposely will not move forward
• Can be more challenging when ongoing substance abuse or untreated mental health issues are present (but not impossible
• Both parties have lawyers
• Other experts are often hired to assist with parenting plans, budgets, valuations and collection of financial information
• Experts are hired by joint agreement and are neutral—asked to provide expertise and not to advocate for a party or a party’s position
• Lawyers offer advice, guidance, advocacy and draft settlement document and appropriate closing documents
• Generally, less expensive than going to trial or arbitration to resolve disputes and more expensive than parties reaching an agreement on their own
• For more specific information about the Collaborative Process, click here.