Collaborative
Law
Collaborative Law
Professional Guidance, Collaborative Solutions
Divorce is never easy, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. Collaborative Law offers families a better long-term solution — one that minimizes emotional strain, reduces financial stress, and allows both spouses to move forward with dignity. By working together instead of against each other, families save time, money, and energy that would otherwise be drained in litigation costs.
Unlike traditional litigation where a judge makes the final decisions about your children, your finances, and your future, collaborative divorce keeps the control in your hands. Parents and spouses work together to create solutions that fit their unique family, instead of having life-altering choices imposed by the court.
This process also helps preserve important relationships — especially for parents who will continue co-parenting. Collaborative divorce creates space for healthier communication, which can ease conflict now and foster cooperation in the future.
Why Choose Collaborative Law?
Collaborative Law (or Collaborative Divorce) is a structured team-based process where each party has their own attorney, and together, rely on the use neutral experts who provide insight into what is best for the family going forward. The parties, and all professionals, commit to resolving the case without court involvement.
- Better for Children: Reduces conflict and helps parents model respectful problem-solving. It removes a lot of the acrimony and bitterness between spouses and instead focuses on cooperative problem solving with the help of the collaborative team.
- Emotionally and Mentally Healthier: Focuses on cooperation instead of bitterness and battles.
- Financially Practical: Often less expensive than courtroom litigation as your money is spent on finding resolutions rather than fighting.
- Private and Confidential: Protects your family’s privacy by reducing the amount of publicly available information.
- Future-Focused: Builds agreements that actually work long term in real life, not just on paper because you are creating the solutions rather than being forced to comply with a Judge’s orders.
- You Stay in Control: Unlike in court, where the judge decides, collaborative divorce empowers spouses to make their own agreements rather than having them imposed by someone who knows very little about you and your family..
What are the minimum requirements to use Collaborative Law:
California Law requires everyone must sign a collaborative participation agreement pledging:
- Full transparency and good faith;
- Open sharing of information; and
- Withdrawal of all professionals if either party chooses litigation.
Let Our Experience Be Your Guide
How It Works
Who Participates
The Benefits
Our Approach
How the Collaborative Process Works
- Participation Agreement — Both spouses and attorneys commit to resolving issues without going to court and a Stipulation for Collaborative law is filed along with the Summons and Petition.
- Team Meetings — Joint sessions with attorneys and neutral professionals, where applicable, such as financial specialists or child experts, take place outside of court on an ongoing basis as often as necessary.
- Information Sharing — Full, transparent disclosure of financial and parenting information.
- Problem-Solving — The team works together to create balanced, realistic solutions.
- Court Filing — The final agreement is filed and becomes a binding court order.
Who participates in the process?
The collaborative team may include:
- Two collaboratively trained attorneys (one for each party);
- A neutral financial specialist; and/or
- A mental-health or communication coach (sometimes called a child specialist or facilitator).
Not all team members are required, the collaborative process can occur with only two collaborative attorneys and the parties, however, specialized team members are encouraged. The team meets together in structured sessions to reach resolution through education, interest-based negotiation, and professional guidance.
Benefits of Collaborative:
- Each person is represented by their own attorney;
- All professionals work together cooperatively, not adversarial;
- No court filings or threats of litigation during the process;
- Encourages holistic, family-focused agreements;
- Especially well-suited for cases involving ongoing relationships (co-parenting, business partners, etc.).
At Perkins Family Law, PC, we believe divorce doesn’t have to happen by way of an expensive courtroom battle. As trained collaborative attorneys, we guide families toward solutions that reduce conflict, preserve dignity, and support long-term cooperation.
COLLABORATIVE LAW Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions regarding Collaborative Law, to better help guide you through the process.
What happens if one spouse leaves the collaborative process?
Do we have to be friendly to do collaborative divorce?
What professionals are involved in a collaborative case?
In addition to each spouse’s attorney, the team may, but doesn’t have to include neutral professionals such as:
- A financial specialist to help analyze budgets, assets, and property division.
- A mental health professional or divorce coach to assist with communication and emotional management.
- A child specialist who focuses on the needs and well-being of children.
When fully engaged, this team approach provides comprehensive support and ensures that decisions are informed and balanced.
Is collaborative divorce less expensive than litigation?
Usually, yes — although every case is unique and different. Because the process avoids having numerous court hearings and focuses on problem-solving rather than conflict, collaborative divorce can be more efficient and cost-effective overall. It also reduces emotional costs by keeping discussions private and forward-focused.
How long does a collaborative divorce take?
Is a collaborative divorce legally binding?
Yes. The case is filed with the Court as a Collaborative case. After that the case proceeds out of court. However, once the collaborative process concludes and the final agreement is signed, the Judgement paperwork is filed with the court, and it becomes a binding court order — just like any other divorce judgment.
Is everything we discuss in the collaborative process confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is a key part of the collaborative process. Discussions and documents shared within the team are protected from public disclosure, promoting open communication and trust. Unlike traditional litigation, although some documents are filed with the court, it does not create a public record involving all your family’s private information. Further, if the collaborative process breaks down, and the parties move to litigation, they cannot use the same attorneys they used in the collaborative process, nor any of the information they used from the collaborative process, they start from ground zero.
What are the main benefits of choosing collaborative divorce?
Collaborative divorce encourages open and transparent communication, creative problem-solving, and lasting agreements. It keeps decision-making in your hands, reduces stress, and helps preserve relationships — especially when children are involved. It can also be more cost effective than traditional litigation.