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Find experienced attorneys who focus on collaborative solutions, keeping your family out of court.
Instead of costly and contentious court battles, you’re supported by a team dedicated to finding solutions that benefit everyone.
Financial experts, lawyers, and divorce coaches work together to streamline your divorce process.
Less focus on “winning” and more on stability for your family. Keep your family in control of the outcome.
FCDP is a non-profit that connects you with professionals dedicated to helping families resolve legal, emotional, and financial issues through collaboration — not conflict.
Find experienced attorneys who focus on collaborative solutions, keeping your family out of court.
Get advice on divorce mortgages, dividing assets, and planning for a stable financial future.
Have a dedicated professional in your corner, ready to guide and support you through every step.
Collaborative Law – describes the legal component of Collaborative Practice, made up of both parties and their attorneys.
Collaborative Practice – Collaborative Practice is a method of resolving disputes where participants work with a team of professionals to craft their agreements.
Collaborative Process – means the key elements of the process.
Collaborative Divorce – refers to resolution of particular types of disputes (divorce and domestic partnerships), it can also apply to disputes involving employment law, probate law, construction law, real property law, and other civil law areas where the parties are likely to have continuing relationships after the current conflict has been resolved.
In mediation, the mediator, who is a third-party impartial person, facilitates your negotiations with the other disputing party, and help you settle your case. This mediator is not a legal expert and cannot give legal advice to you.
In collaborative practice, the mediators are qualified lawyers they give you all the legal advice.
If mediation does not result in a settlement, you and your attorney have the option to move forward together with litigation in court.
In Collaborative Practice, the lawyers and parties sign an agreement with the sole focus of negotiations between toward a successful out of court resolution of all issues.
It specifically states your Collaborative attorney and any other professional team members will be disqualified from participating in litigation with you if the Collaborative Process is terminated without an agreement being reached. You and the other party will need to hire new attorneys to proceed with litigation.
Both Collaborative Practice and mediation rely on the free exchange of information and a commitment to resolutions that respect the parties’ shared goals. This doesn’t mean you and the other party have to agree on the issues, only in agreement on your intention to participate in the process in good faith.
It is wise for you to seek professional advice to help you decide whether you should pursue mediation or Collaborative Practice.
Yes, the collaborative practice offers the same option for a same-sex couple getting divorced just like a normal divorce. Not only this, even unmarried parents whose relationships are breaking up and who need to make decisions about their children such as custody agreements can also take help of the Collaborative Process.
Yes, the collaborative practice offers the same option for a same-sex couple getting divorced just like a normal divorce. Not only this, even unmarried parents whose relationships are breaking up and who need to make decisions about their children such as custody agreements can also take help of the Collaborative Process.
Divorce and termination of domestic partnerships are an ending and a beginning all wrapped up into one process.
In Collaborative Practice, all decisions are taking after anticipating the best interest of the family. All agreements are reached after taking care of the interest of both the spouse and children. The entire collaborative team helps you anticipate you and your family’s best interests in moving forward. Collaborative Practice helps you and your family make a smoother transition to the next stage of your lives, maintaining relationships and lessening trauma and stress.
Yes, collaborative practice ensures a faster divorce settlement because you don’t have to go through all the legal process which involves multiple appearances in the court of law.
In collaborative practice, unlike a legal battle, the focus is not on blaming each other but the focus is on problem-solving. Full disclosure and open communications help to assure all your issues are discussed on time and ensure a faster settlement.
Collaborative professionals are trained in non-confrontational negotiation techniques to help keep discussions productive and avoid personal attacks. This helps in creating a mutual understanding between the couple and helps in avoiding emotional hostility.
The collaborative team comprises you, your spouse, and a team of experts including legal experts, a child specialist, and who may represent the children’s interest, a mental health professional and may include a financial advisor also. Team Collaborative Team can be any combination of professionals you choose to work with to resolve your dispute.
The Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Model is a multi-disciplinary team approach to dispute resolution, which includes
The team members pledge they will not be involved in any court litigation concerning an assigned Collaborative Practice case. All members agree they will withdraw from the case if the parties drop out and decide to pursue litigation.
In this model, the entire team focuses on the solution of the dispute and helps in securing the interest of both the spouse and children as well. While an attorney guides on legal aspects a child specialist helps in securing the future of children. A financial specialist helps in designing the strategy for the equal financial division. A mental health specialist helps in resolving mental trauma.