Guide: How Collaborative Divorce Works

Collaborative law is a process where you and your former partner commit to settling matters without going to court. Both of you – along with your lawyers – commit to working together civilly to reach an agreement.

There will be lots of talking! This is a process that minimises correspondence and everything important happens in the room at what are called ‘4-way meetings’. Key features of collaborative law include:

  • all negotiations happen in the room with both clients and lawyers (called a 4-way)
  • there are few or no letters sent between lawyers
  • experts on pensions, financial advice or relationship counselling can be brought into the process and work for the couples, not simply for one of them
  • both the lawyers and the clients sign up to a contract confirming the confidential nature of the process, and stipulating the behaviour that is expected at the meetings and beyond

The agenda is set by you

The agenda is set by you both and offers flexibility to achieve an outcome that might well differ from what a court might order. You will be advised throughout on what a court would consider appropriate, even if your respective advisers differ in their views on the likely outcome. Your lawyer can also give advice outside of the 4-way meetings, but they must be prepared to repeat that advice at the 4-way meetings if required. The approach is one of openness and transparency.

Guide to Collaborative Divorce

Control over timing

Progress is often tailored to the pace of the person moving most slowly, but it can proceed quickly if both parties want and can cope with that. Thus, the 4-way meetings can be held close together and – provided both parties have their financial information available – a conclusion can be reached and made binding within weeks rather than months.

If additional advice or assistance is required from financial advisers, pension actuaries or other experts they can be brought into the process, jointly instructed by both parties, often attending a 4-way meeting so both parties can hear what they advise.

Ultimately your process

Although guided by the lawyers, the onus is on you and your former partner to make the decisions and reach an agreement.

If you agree

If you can reach an agreement, then this needs to be put before a court in order to make it binding. It is important that this be done in order to ensure certainty moving forward for both parties.

If you cannot agree

If the collaborative process breaks down, the two collaborative lawyers will not be able to take any further part in the process and both parties will have to instruct new representation.
The factual information you have gathered in the collaborative law process can be passed to your new lawyers but, although they will be made aware of the discussions as recorded in the minutes of each meeting, those discussions cannot be taken into the court arena.

Initial Fixed Fee Consultation

Come and talk to us. You’ll find us empathetic, keen to help and with a wealth of experience. We offer a fixed fee consultation of £120 for the first appointment. You will be advised on the options open to you and the possible outcomes. Our priority is to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the path ahead and the challenges involved in achieving your goals.

Disclaimer: This guide contains general information only and does not constitute legal advice.  You need to consult a suitably qualified lawyer from the firm on any specific legal issue. 

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Barr Ellison LLP in Cambridge has a small but highly regarded family law practice, which handles divorce, financial matters including international assets or income streams, property settlements, and children arrangements. Lead partner Sarah Martin and vastly experienced associate Karen Anker are known for 'a personal service of an extremely high quality', and clients remark that they 'fight their client's cases with clarity and great attention to detail'. Martin, who frequently acts for high-net-worth individuals, academics, and entrepreneurs, is particularly well known for her expertise in private children law matters.
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