The collaborative approach can be a beneficial way of resolving issues, whether or not you and your partner have children. It is an approach that gives individuals their own voice and real control over the outcome.

The collaborative approach is one in which you and your partner, and lawyers for both of you, commit to resolving the matters between you without involving the Court (other than to deal with the legal formalities of the divorce and to approve the financial settlement you reach). Some people refer to this as a collaborative divorce. It is this “no Court commitment” which for many offers the prospect of delivering a solution for the long-term benefit of you and your family.

The collaborative approach enables you and your partner to set the agenda and ensures everyone is aware about what matters to you in the negotiations. It can have many benefits:

• Nothing is hidden from you or your partner – it is an open and transparent process
• The things that are important to you can be articulated by you and heard by everyone
• You are able to build a rapport with, and establish trust in, your partner’s lawyer
• You can ask questions and seek further clarification then and there
• You can move at your own pace through the process
• There is no need for lengthy, aggressive or costly correspondence between lawyers
• There is much less room for misunderstandings and any misunderstandings that do arise can be dealt with immediately

The team at FLiP pioneered the use of the collaborative approach in the UK and our lawyers are widely acknowledged to be expert in this field. “Family Law in Partnership is “one of the most skilled proponents of collaborative law”” The Legal 500 UK 2016.

We have a large team of experienced collaborative practitioners. We are members of the International Academy of Collaborative Practitioners and published the first guide for clients on the collaborative approach, ” A Client’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce – Putting Your Family First” (2010).