Is Collaborative Practice Right for Me?

You might consider collaborative practice if…

• You are separating from a partner and want to maintain a respectful co-parenting relationship
• You want to resolve a legal dispute privately, without a public court record
• You have a family estate dispute and want to preserve family relationships
• You are in a business or commercial dispute where the ongoing relationship matters
• You want to have genuine input into the outcome, rather than leaving it to a judge
• You want a faster, less expensive process than traditional litigation
• You want the support of a whole team, not just your own lawyer, during a difficult process

Collaborative practice may not be the right fit if…

• There is a significant imbalance of power or a history of abuse. This should be discussed with a collaborative professional before proceeding
• One party is unwilling to commit to honest disclosure of relevant information
• An urgent court order is needed (for example, for safety reasons)
• One party is simply unwilling to try a non-adversarial process

What to expect, step by step

• Initial consultation: you meet with a collaboratively trained professional to decide if the process is right for your situation.
• Signing the Participation Agreement: all parties formally commit to the process: honest disclosure, respectful communication, and staying out of court.
• Team meetings: a series of structured face-to-face meetings where issues are discussed openly with the full professional team.
• Reaching agreement: a custom solution is crafted by the parties themselves, then made into a legally binding agreement or order.

Common questions