Collaborative Law
Your dedicated collaborative lawyer will guide you through an amicable separation
Collaborative lawyers for you - How does the process work?
The Collaborative Law process encourages divorcing or separating couples to work together with the support of specially trained Collaborative lawyers, communicating effectively to achieve certain goals. It promotes respect between the parties, places the needs of children first and keeps control of the process with the couple.
How can a collaborative solicitor support me?
An integral part of the process is that the parties and their solicitor sign an agreement at the outset, confirming they will not go to court, but will resolve all issues through a number of meetings.
A series of ‘four-way’ meetings then take place which involve both parties and their lawyers. Each person has the support, protection and guidance of his or her own lawyer throughout.
The Collaborative approach encourages communication and the full disclosure of facts identifying possible ‘flash points’. Lawyers then aim to guide couples to a settlement. It helps to prevent parties becoming too positional and allows more creative solutions.
Your collaborative law questions answered
Collaborative law can;
- Provide a civilised way of resolving issues outside of court
- Help maintain long term relationships
- Reduce the emotional strain on families
- Protect children from disputes and avoid the uncertainty of litigation
- Enable creative solutions to be found
The Collaborative process itself relies on couples who can work together in an open and cooperative manner. It will succeed if you and your partner agree that you want:
- An amicable, respectful resolution of your issues
- The ability to make your own joint decisions about financial and child care arrangements
- To protect an amicable relationship after divorce
- To establish a healthy and mutually beneficial co-parenting relationship
- To protect children from hostility, ill feeling and disruption.
The Collaborative process is flexible and will vary in order to meet your specific needs. In general most people require between two and six meetings to resolve their issues. No other professional conflict resolution assistance is as inventive, efficient or as economical as Collaborative law for such a broad range of people facing separation or divorce.
Generally speaking, in mediation there will be three people present, the two parties involved and the impartial mediator, who is not able to provide legal advice.
In collaborative law, there will be four people present; each party and their individual lawyer. You may therefore feel more comfortable using Collaborative law as you will have someone dedicated to supporting and advising you.
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Meet the Goughs family law team
Why work with Goughs?
Local since 1882, with an excellent reputation
First-class, effective service
Largest solicitors in Wiltshire
Seven offices throughout the county
Nationally accredited law firm
Recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners
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