Collaborative law differs from mediation in that each party has a legal advisor present at all meetings.
Both parties have the benefit of legal advice throughout the process as they have their own collaboratively trained lawyer. All four of you work together in a series of face-to-face meetings and all commit to reaching solutions by agreement rather than through court. Face-to-face communication between the parties can help to reduce costs and enables you to better work together in the future.
Some benefits of the collaborative process are that you and your partner will have worked together to reach an agreement that works for your family. You have the support of your lawyers every step of the way and they can immediately prepare the necessary paperwork to finalise the agreement reached.
Other advisors can be brought into the process as and when they are needed – for example, independent financial advisors, accountants, valuers and family consultants who can help deal with the emotional aspect following the breakdown of a relationship.
