covent garden Family Law
17 Shorts Gardens | London | WC2H 9AT

T: 020 7257 6130 | F: 020 7836 3656 | DX: 40002 Covent Garden
Cohabitation & Divorce
Children
Collaborative Family Law

Our aim is to give you the advice which will allow you to make the best possible decisions about your family and the future.

Our approach is to seek agreement wherever that is possible, using court proceedings only as a last resort and never for their own sake. Where it is necessary to litigate, we will represent you with care and vigour.

We will give you sensible and sensitive advice; where we feel that you would be best served by an expert from another discipline, as well as or instead of a lawyer, we can help you identify that person.

We are committed, discreet and professional.

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Collaborative Family Law

What is collaborative family law?

Collaborative law is a new way of dealing with your divorce, separation or dissolution without involving the court system. It can be used to resolve disputes about your children finances or property. Its aim is to minimise the conflict between you and your partner and to focus on the future rather than the past.

If you decide to enter into this process, you and your partner will each instruct a specially trained collaborative lawyer. You will both agree that you will not involve the courts and commit to resolving your disputes in meetings facilitated by your lawyers. Negotiations take place in the spirit of openness and honesty, where all four people in the room work towards achieving a solution that works for you, your spouse or partner and your family.

This process is conducive to maintaining good communication between you and your partner for the future, especially where future co-parenting is needed.

Collaborative family law also provides for the use of child or family consultants and divorce coaches and also financial specialists where their expertise is required. It allows for "out of the box" thinking to help to identify a tailor-made solution for you and your family. You maintain control of the outcome and the process without having the courts decide what is best for you and your family. Your lawyer is free to work with your partner’s lawyer to work out the best shared solution; your lawyer will also ensure that you have the clearest possible understanding of the legal issues involved in your case so that you can feel confident in agreeing to the proposed solution.

Is it right for me?

Divorce, dissolution and separation is a highly personal matter. Whether the collaborative process is right for you is something we will explore with you. We also consider with you alternatives such as mediation or litigation.

When can collaborative law be used?

Collaborative solutions are suitable for divorce, civil partnership dissolution, cohabitation and property disputes, contact, residence and co-parenting issues, and division of assets.

We also believe that a collaborative approach is ideal for prenuptial and pre-registration agreements to set out your intentions prior to entering into marriage or civil partnership.

Family creation arrangements are also uniquely suited for discussion within the collaborative process.

Useful Links

What is collaborative law?
www.resolution.org.uk/editorial.asp?page_id=53

Website of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals; an international perspective on collaborative family law
www.collaborativepractice.com

Collaborative law directory for London
www.londoncollaborativelaw.com

London’s collaborative pod for gay and lesbian clients:
www.queerpod.co.uk

Advice on family mediation:
www.advicenow.org.uk/family-mediation
www.familymediationhelpline.co.uk/family-mediation.php

The Parent Connection: information about parenting, especially after separation www.theparentconnection.org.uk/index.asp

Relate: help and advice for all areas of relationship difficulties
www.relate.org.uk

The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships:
www.tccr.org.uk
 Headline/Articles
We have moved
New decision on surrogacy arrangements that have been made abroad.
New government scheme to tackle domestic violence
Collaborative Practice Resolution Accredited Family Law Collaborative Family Lawyer Legal Service Comission Alison Burt