Collaborative Law
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The team
- Helen Thewlis: Family and Matrimonial
- Jane Auty: Family and Matrimonial
Traditionally, when couples separate, they each take independent advice from specialist family lawyers. Working through their lawyers they try to reach an agreement on how to settle their differences. But when this process fails often the Courts are left to decide, causing stress and heartache to everyone involved.
Collaborative law is a new alternative, now available at Ramsdens, for those seeking a more personal and effective way of dispute resolution.
Free from the constraints of mediation or court proceedings collaborative law allows for couples to settle their differences through face-to-face discussions, with the constant support of their solicitor and no third parties. Unlike the traditional route the collaborative law process puts couples in control. You decide the pace and agenda of the discussions, with the added advantage of having your solicitor by your side throughout the negotiations making sure that your priorities are effectively met.
More importantly the process places all parties under a duty to provide full and honest disclosure so that couples are free to focus on working with the facts, instead of disputing them. By also placing parties under a signed agreement to instruct other solicitors should proceedings fail and require the involvement of the courts, there is a real incentive for both sides to stick with the discussions until they find a mutual solution.
Uniquely the process also allows for experts to be called upon from a wide range of areas. From financial experts to counsellors, solely to help clients identify their priorities and achieve a personal and effective agreement.
Collaborative law is especially effective where children are involved as it keeps communication between partners open and respectful, causing less stress to children and allowing for the parents to come to a long-term agreement that everyone can live with.
Why is collaborative law becoming more popular?
- You maintain contact with your ex-partner, meaning that you have the best chance of understanding each other and finding the best possible solution.
- If children are involved you both remain the parents and this process allows for your children to cope better by seeing that you are both working things through together.
- All key decisions made about your future are yours and are never decided by a third party.
- Most importantly the collaborative law approach can significantly reduce the time and costs involved in separation cases.
Both Helen Thewlis and Jane Auty are qualified in Collaborative Law and are available for consultation at any of our offices.
Further details can be obtained by calling Ramsdens Solicitors in Huddersfield on 01484 821 500 or emailing helen.thewlis@ramsdens.co.uk.
“With many clients already afraid of any courtroom procedure, collaborative law takes a lot of that stress away by keeping things simple and keeping the clients in control. By keeping parties talking what often is a long drawn out process can quickly come to resolution that benefits everyone involved”