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Eastside Collaborative Family Law is a professional association of Independant Collaborative Team Members. We are all members of King County Collaborative Law and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. If you have any questions or comments please click on the Members tab and email one of us.
The end of a marriage or relationship can be tragic enough. Often, the process of divorcing only adds to the pain. You and your spouse or partner may come to see each other as adversaries and the divorce as a battleground. You may experience feelings of confusion, anger, loss and conflict. Under such circumstances, you might find it difficult to see an end to divorce, much less imagine a hopeful future afterwards.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. A growing number of parting couples, along with other professionals such as lawyers, mental health professionals and financial specialists, have been seeking a more constructive alternative. These professionals have developed the Collaborative Family Law model.
Collaborative Family Law is a reasonable approach to divorce based on three principles:
- A pledge not to go to court
- An honest exchange of information by both spouses
- A solution that takes into account the highest priorities of both adults and their children.
Mutual respect is fundamental to the collaborative way. You may cease being spouses, but you don’t cease being worthy human beings. When respect is given and received, discussions are likely to be more productive and an agreement reached more easily.
A Pledge To Collaborate
The key difference between Collaborative Family Law and conventional divorce is the pledge to reach an agreement before going to court. You and your spouse keep control of the decisions yourselves, rather than giving it up to a judge. In order to accomplish that, all of the parties consent in writing to be part of a respectful process that leads to an out-of-court resolution. With Collaborative Family Law, the goal is to develop effective relationships, solve problems jointly, and prevent a court battle.
Open Communication
Even under the best of circumstances, communication can be strained as a relationship is ending. Yet keeping the lines of communication open is essential for reaching an agreement. Collaborative Family Law provides for face-to-face meetings with you, your spouse, your respective lawyers and your team as needed. These sessions are intended to produce an honest exchange of information and expression of needs and expectations. When the issues are openly discussed, problem solving can be direct and solutions-oriented.
An Agreement Everyone Can Live With
If you’ve reached a decision about separation, you may be reassured to know that Collaborative Family Law focuses on attaining resolution. The collaborative model is designed to protect the interests of children and help you and your spouse move forward with new lives. Throughout, the collaborative process emphasizes cooperating to find solutions. And instead of being an endless airing of grievances, Collaborative Family Law encourages people to reach a workable settlement by building on areas of mutual agreement.
Support When You Need It
Divorce usually involves many considerations, from concern for children to financial questions to property matters. Along with handling the overall emotional impact, managing by yourself can be difficult. For that reason, Collaborative Family Law offers you a supportive approach. You and your lawyer work as a team. Other professionals including mental health professionals, child specialists, and financial specialists can become part of your team, helping find constructive solutions to deal with separation’s wide-ranging issues and establish goals for the future.
A Focus On The Future
Divorce ends a marriage but need not sever family ties or relationships. Especially when children are involved, lifelong responsibilities remain. By preserving respect and encouraging cooperation, Collaborative Family Law helps parents and children keep family bonds while embracing new lives. Divorce will always remain a significant life event. In the face of it, Collaborative Family Law can lead you and your families to a compassionate ending, and a healthy new beginning.
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