Collaborative Law

Collaborative Family Law is the newest separation/divorce dispute resolution model. In Collaborative Family Law each person retains his or her own trained collaborative solicitor to advise and assist in negotiating an agreement on all issues. All negotiations take place in “four way settlement meetings” that both clients and solicitors attend. The solicitors cannot go to Court or threaten to go to Court. Settlement is the only agenda.

If either client goes to Court, both collaborative solicitors are disqualified from further participation.

Each client has built in legal advice and representation during negotiations, and each solicitor’s job includes guiding the client towards reasonable resolution. The legal advice is an integral part of the process, but all the decisions are made by the client. Once settlement terms have been agreed, the solicitors generally prepare and process all papers required for an uncontested divorce.

At Macleod and MacCallum, Fiona Campbell and Morag MacIntosh are qualified collaborative lawyers. For more information in respect of collaborative law please contact Fiona or Morag or, alternatively, you can find more information on the collaborative law website.

For advice and information on the constructive resolution of family disputes, also see the website of the Family Law Association.

Contact  Fiona Campbell

              Morag MacIntosh