Collaborative law

Collaborative law is a process where the parties focus on resolving their divorce or parentage matters outside of court.  Each party will be represented by his or her own attorney.  In some matters, the parties may decide to bring in other financial or child-specific professionals when needed.  The collaborative team works together to find solutions for that family’s particular issues, whether financial, parenting or both. 

In a collaborative divorce, both parties must commit to resolving their issues outside of the courtroom.  This forces the team to work through the issues rather than filing motions in court.  Each party voluntarily produces any documents needed in the specific matter.  The process requires cooperation by both parties with the guidance and support of the team.

In matters with children, the parties will work with the team to create a parenting plan taking into account the needs of the children and both parties in the future.  It is a more customized approach for each family.  One of the primary benefits of the collaborative approach is that the parties are intimately involved in creating their future plan rather than a court determining their fate.  This leads to a higher level of satisfaction with the final agreement, which generally results in fewer post-decree parenting issues.

Please contact The Law Office of Erin M. Wilson LLC for a consultation regarding collaborative law.