What to expect in a Collaborative Separation

By Jennifer Black

If you’re going through a separation, divorce, or parenting transition, you may be feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or even fearful of what lies ahead. Collaborative family law offers a more respectful, supportive, and solution-focused alternative to going to court.

In a collaborative separation you have a team of professionals that is working with you.  In addition to your lawyer, there is often a family professional that provides emotional guidance and support and assists with developing a parenting plan.  A financial professional can assist in gathering financial information and providing financial advice. Your lawyer is with you throughout the process to give you legal advice and support.  Your professional team is committed to helping you and your partner resolve matters outside of court. 

Collaborative is a very client centred process.  In traditional negotiation there is often a lot of letters going back and forth between the lawyers instead in the collaborative process, everyone gets together in meetings to discuss issues, what information needs to be gathered and sets timelines to keep matters moving forward. The meetings really help make sure everyone is on the same page and can usually resolve matters much more efficiently than in traditional negotiation.  

In collaborative there is a real focus on what is important to you.  Instead of arguing about issues your lawyers and other collaborative professionals help you and your partner explore what is truly important whether that be the stability for your children, financial security or preserving a civil relationship with your partner.  Discussions are focussed on goals and working towards solutions that will work for everyone. 

Collaborative recognizes that while there are legal issues to be addressed a separation is not only about legal issues and that it is a very emotional time.  The process is designed to help you manage the stress and enable you to make clear and thoughtful decisions. 

If you’re looking for a respectful, child-focused, and empowering way to navigate separation or divorce, then a collaborative approach may be right for you.