Collaborative Law - New Way For Lawyers To Settle Divorce Cases
Three lawyers at South West law firm Foot Anstey are now offering Collaborative law, a new way for lawyers to settle divorce cases.
Yvette Rooke and Zoe Porter have completed the training and join Maggie Roberts in offering a service that takes the decisions away from the courts and puts it in the hands of the divorcing couple.
Collaborative lawyers and their clients agree in writing to resolve the issues over children and finance without court involvement. If no settlement is reached then new lawyers are instructed for court proceedings.
Meetings are set up to try to get to the heart of the situation and find a way forward as sensitively and quickly as possible. All the meetings have both partners and their lawyers present to offer advice. They may ask other experts to be part of the team, such as child specialists and financial neutrals.
The meetings try to get to the heart of the situation and find a way forward as quickly and sensitively as possible. Since the couple themselves are the ultimate decision-makers – not the lawyers or a judge – the process allows them time and a neutral space in which to come to an agreement.
Maggie Roberts, family lawyer specialist at Foot Anstey explains “Relationship breakdowns always involve emotional and financial costs. Experience shows that decisions made personally by divorcing partners are more likely to be effective and last longer than ones decided by a judge in the court. Whilst the breakdown of a relationship is never a happy experience, this method of resolving differences is more respectful and amicable than the adversarial court system.”
Collaborative Law is also used for those wanting to enter into a Cohabitaton or Pre-marital Agreement, because it allows the couple to brainstorm ideas about their property and finances openly and in person with each other.
