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|resourcetype = more information on
|link = [http://www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/help/who_CollaborativeFamilyLawyers.php collaborative family lawyers]
}}In collaborative processes, the parties and their lawyers , and sometimes other professionals, work together as a team to find a resolution of the issues arising from the breakdown of the parties' relationship. The other professionals the parties may also might work with include psychologists or clinical counsellors, and may consult experts such as child specialists and financial specialists during the process , who are called upon as the need arisesduring the collaborative process. Collaborative negotiation is meant to address both the legal and the emotional consequences of the breakdown of a relationship, in a cooperative rather than a competitive way. As a result, it can help people deal with difficult issues, like substance abuse and mental health problems, in a far more constructive way than going to court. It is , in my view, one of the best possible ways of resolving family law disputes.
This section provides a <span class="noglossary">brief</span> introduction to collaborative negotiation, a step-by-step overview of what happens in collaborative processes, and resources for learning more and getting started.
==Introduction==
Collaborative negotiation is a voluntary, cooperative, voluntary process in which each party retains a collaboratively-trained lawyer , and other collaborative professionals, as needed, to resolve not just the legal issues but also the emotional issues arising from the end of the parties' a long-term relationship. (Not surprisingly, the emotional issues following that come up after separation can often be a barrier to resolving the legal issues.) The other people professionals who might be involved in a collaborative process include:
*'''Divorce coaches:''' counsellors trained in collaborative negotiation who may work with each party to manage the emotions typically associated with separation and help them finalize a parenting plan that best meets the needs of the children.
*'''Child specialists:''' neutral mental health experts, trained in collaborative negotiation, who may work with everybody and with the children to ensure the children's wishes and preferences are heard and make recommendations about the parenting plan that best meets their needs.
This sounds like an awful lot of professionals, however, in collaborative processes the lawyers and their clients work together to build the team that best suits their needsand circumstances. As well, this approach provides a more specialized, and often more cost-effective, way to deal with separation rather than just leaving it all to the lawyers.
The goal purpose of collaborative negotiation is to help the parties negotiate a reasonable settlement that restructures their family in the most positive manner possible, recognizing that families continue and need to flourish despite the separation of the adults involved. Parents ''must '' be able to effectively work together to raise their children long after separationtheir romantic relationship has come to an end, and that is the fundamental goal of collaborative negotiation.
==How do I start in the collaborative process?==