- A divorcing couple arguing about custody, property and finances.
- Siblings arguing about elder care decisions or an inheritance.
- Business partners arguing about labor and management decisions.
- Family members arguing about family business succession or trust matters
- Landlords and tenants arguing about repair bills.
- Neighbors arguing about noise and boundaries.
Each of these, and other kinds of conflicts too, can lead to expensive
and time-consuming legal battles. Or they can be handled collaboratively.
Collaborative Practice is a new way to resolve conflicts in a respectful
and mutually agreed upon process. Rather than turning the decision-making
power over to a judge or other third party, control of the collaborative
solution is kept with the people directly involved in the dispute. When
issues about children are part of the dispute, their needs are placed
first. Clients and their attorneys are at the heart of a working team
which often includes mental health, financial and other professionals
as needed to provide information and help clients explore a variety
of solutions. The clients don't sign a settlement agreement until each
of them is comfortable with it.
What Makes This Different?
- All information is voluntarily shared as soon as possible.
- Good faith efforts to explore options are central to the process.
- Skills are developed which enable parties to handle new issues as they come up.
- Collaborative attorneys work only as settlement specialists, and disputing parties will need to hire other lawyers if any of the parties want to litigate.
- Participants can add neutral experts to their supportive team.
- Clients retain the power to create a resolution that fits their particular needs and priorities.
You are invited to explore Collaborative Practice and the California Collaborative Practice groups with specially trained collaborative professionals who can assist you in a healthy transition beyond conflict.
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