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Collaborative Law

This is a fairly new approach but growing in popularity. It is a non-confrontational approach to agreeing the legal, financial and practical arrangements for your separation or divorce. The focus is on positive solutions, an amicable and dignified outcome.

You and your partner each need to instruct a solicitor who has qualified as a collaborative lawyer. We can act for you – Jackie Young is trained as a collaborative solicitor. If your partner does not have a collaborative solicitor, he or she can go to www.consensus-scotland.com which is the collaborative website in Scotland.

You will meet with your respective solicitors for legal advice and then in four-way meetings with your partner and the other solicitor. Meetings are planned carefully and take the form of discussions. Everyone agrees to try and find solutions which will work in the interests of everyone including your children. You agree not to go to court. It is quicker, cheaper and more amicable than court and allows you both to decide what will happen. As yet, legal aid is not available for collaborative law and so you would both pay privately your legal expenses.

We can also involve a financial consultant who will advise you both collaboratively to discuss options and help you to achieve the best financial outcomes for you both.

If there are emotional difficulties which need to be resolved, or considered to allow the process to work, then collaboratively trained relationship counsellors can also be involved.

Generally speaking, the collaborative process will help you:

• Minimise conflict
• Lessen the stress
• Reduce the emotional damage
• Protect your children
• Make good financial choices for your future
• Retain control over decision-making
• Retain your dignity, integrity and respect

Ensure everyone involved has a better outcome