The breakdown of a long-term relationship is an extraordinarily difficult experience for everyone involved. Contrary to the impression you might form from much of the rest of this website, a couple's legal difficulties are only one part of the whole experience of ending a long-term relationship. The purpose of shared by all collaborative processes is to provide a non-adversarial space for the parties to resolve their issues and emerge, at the end of the process, as emotionally- and psychologically-whole people.

The traditional legal approach Litigation, which used to separation be the primary mechanism for resolving family law disputes, is adversarial by nature and usually aggravates the emotional difficulties couples face when their relationships breaks down rather than making them betterimproving things. In the STOPPED collaborative processprocesses, on the other hand, the parties agree that they will not go to court, and sign an agreement to that effect, and mental health professionals are included in the process as necessary.

Of course, not every couple is suited to the a collaborative law approach. This process require requires honesty and good faith, both to oneself and towards each otherto others. Sometimes the breakdown of a relationship is so full of anger and bitterness that no mediated approach will workexcept for litigation. If both parties arenLike all other alternatives to court except arbitration, if each party isn't willing to use and embrace the collaborative process, it simply will not work.

This segment provides The following discussion takes a general look at the collaborative law processsettlement processes. Since this process is collaborative approaches are very much tailored to the unique circumstances of each couple, their preferences and those of their lawyers, you should read what follows with a grain of salt. This description may not represent how you or your collaborative lawyer will prefer to do things.

===Finding a Collaborative Lawyer===

The first step is for each spouse to find and hire a lawyer. You should look for a lawyer experienced in collaborative law, or , at least a bare minimum, one who is open to the idea; most lawyers who practice collaborative law will expressly describe themselves as collaborative lawyers or collaborative practitioners in their promotional materials. The lawyers will then explain the collaborative law process to their respective clients, and then contact each other to begin the preparation of prepare a collaborative law process participation agreement.

A good place to start looking for a lawyer is the website of the collaborative law practice group nearest you., such as:

A quick Google search for "<tt>collaborative law bc" </tt> should net you some additional resources, including collaborative family law lawyers in your area.