Collaborative Law focuses on creating an effective settlement that works for both parties. Each party’s needs are listened to with respect which allows the husband and wife to feel heard. This approach allows the couple to move beyond their emotional positions and to focus on reaching a settlement that works for both of them. The negotiations are based on values, not based on a win-lose mentality.

The goal is for each attorney to help the couple transition from being married people to single persons who still maintain and share common interests.

The participants are able to resolve their disputes more efficiently and on a more timely basis than in the traditional court-based divorce because they are not burdened with costly discovery requests, unnecessary court hearings, delays, or posturing techniques that are often prevalent in adversarial litigation.

Cases are settled after thoughtful negotiations that are interest based; not because one party feels pressured to settle due to a looming trial date.

Judges are restricted in what they can order parties to do. The collaborative process empowers people to be creative and develop innovative solutions that go beyond the court’s limitations. The result is that people reach agreements that they uphold because the agreements are acceptable to them and they are agreements derived after meaningful negotiations as opposed to a decision that has been forced upon them by a judge.

One of the major reasons marriages break down is a lack of communication. The collaborative process facilitates effective communication through participation in the four-way meetings which involve active listening, discussion, and negotiations.