Collaborative Divorce

At Telfer Family Law, we take an innovative approach to working with our clients in family law and conflict resolution. One innovative approach is Collaborative Divorce.

In Collaborative Divorce, you and your spouse/partner negotiate the settlement of your separation issues in a way that promotes respect and places your children first by focusing on the unique needs of your family.

All of this is done outside court.

Advantages of Collaborative Divorce

• Your lawyer guides and advises you through the entire negotiation
• Family and financial professionals support the best and healthiest decision-making
• Face-to-face meetings make negotiations direct and efficient
• Your family’s needs are the focus
• You control the decision-making
• Open and respectful communication is encouraged
• There is full disclosure of facts and information
• All the meetings and communications are confidential and private
• The entire process takes place and is completed outside of court

Collaborative Practice is a cost-effective, solution-oriented approach to resolving conflict. In this process you will be supported by professionals with the special expertise to guide and inform you along the way, resulting in legally binding agreements that resolve all the issues facing your family during your separation, divorce and post-divorce life.

With the information and guidance you need, you are empowered to make sound, long-lasting decisions that will offer you and your family the best possible transition and future lives.

The Collaborative Divorce process preserves your privacy and your dignity, while giving you the best possible chance of resolving disputes respectfully.

The Collaborative Team Approach

Each Collaborative case has 2 lawyers, one for each spouse/partner. Your Collaborative lawyer is a negotiation guide who will advise you on your legal rights and obligations, help you articulate what is important to you and your family, and provide support to achieve a settlement which meets your interests, needs and makes the most sense to you and your family. This process can work even when spouses are “far apart” on solutions.

In addition to the lawyers, your Collaborative Divorce process can include other professionals to support the diverse needs of those involved:

A Collaborative Family Professional can help you address the emotional aspects of your separation and supports both spouses/partners to participate in the Collaborative negotiation in an emotionally healthy way. This is usually a specially trained mental health professional who serves as a communications coach for the parties, facilitates the joint meetings and sometimes assists with the parenting agreement.

The Collaborative Child Specialist brings your children’s needs and their voices to the Collaborative negotiation. As a neutral professional with a focus on your children’s needs, the Child Specialist can help you achieve a parenting agreement that gives your children the best chance to thrive.

The Collaborative Financial Professional will help you gather and understand financial information and work with your collaborative lawyers to expand your financial options for resolution.