Collaborative Law was founded by Stuart G. Webb, a Minnesota attorney, in 1990. After almost quitting the practice of law due to the hostile and stress-filled environment, Mr. Webb chose to begin practicing as a settlement lawyer only; i.e., no more going to court. He developed the team approach to support the parties as they worked toward settlement. From here the idea blossomed as more and more lawyers saw it as a peaceful and productive way of resolving disputes.
What Types of Family Law disputes can be resolved with Collaborative Law?
Collaborative law can be used for any dispute. It has been used the most often in the family law arena to resolve disputes related to:
* Divorce, Legal Separation or Annulment
* Child Custody/Parenting Plans
* Visitation and Visitation Disputes
* Spousal Maintenance/Alimony
* Child Support, Daycare Costs and College Tuition
* Valuing Assets
* Division of Property
* Division of Debt
* Tax Issues
* Paternity Issues
* Break-up of Same Sex Partnerships
* Guardianships
* Adoption
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How do I begin the process?
It takes two willing participants to effectively use the collaborative law process, and two lawyers willing to practice law collaboratively. The most important distinguishing feature for collaborative lawyers is that they both agree, if the matter cannot be settled out of court, to withdraw from further represenation. The parties then have to find new lawyers to go to court. This provides a big incentive for the parties to settle.
The most important distinguishing feature for the parties is that both sides agree to full and fair disclosure of all relevant facts; no stone-walling or game-playing. The parties seek to reach a settlement for the highest good of all concerned.
Since Collaborative law is a relatively new process, your spouse may be reluctant to agree without proper education regarding the benefits of the process. Therefore it is a good idea to:
* Schedule a restaurant “date” with your spouse to discuss Collaborative Family Law and share the information from this website. If you feel your spouse might be wary of the information coming from you, invite him to look up collaborative law on the internet.
* Review and choose from the list of dedicated collaborative law attorneys practicing law in your state.
* Meet with your attorney to discuss your case and the details of the process.
Watch the video related to collaborative law
A short introduction to the benefits of the collaborative law process.
Help answer the question about collaborative law
DID YOU SEE Police Officer To Be Charged After Killing Motorist While Racing To Safe Driving Campaign ?STATESBORO, GEORGIA – A father was seriously injured and his son was killed Tuesday when a rental trailer they were towing was rear-ended on Interstate 16 by a police officer who specializes in nabbing aggressive drivers and who was en route to Chatham County to take part in a safe-driving campaign, officials said.
Cpl. Robert Balkcom, an assistant commander of the Georgia State Patrol post in Statesboro, said no charges have been filed yet, but they are likely, against Dougherty County Police Officer Jeremiah Fenn, 25, of Albany.
Officer Fenn was headed to Chatham County to take part in Operation Rolling Thunder, a 90-day effort to curb Savannah’s rising traffic fatality rate with the help of scores of officers from around the state.
Officer Fenn was driving eastbound near Metter when he took his eyes off the road for a second to look at the computer mounted in his car and struck a trailer being towed by an SUV traveling in the same direction and in the same lane, Cpl. Balkcom said.
The video camera in Officer Fenn’s car, which could have recorded the accident, was turned off, Cpl. Balkcom said.
The SUV overturned several times, ejecting Milton Wilcox, 33, of Savannah, a passenger who was not wearing a seat belt, police said.
Mr. Wilcox was pronounced dead at the scene. His father, William Wilcox, 57, of Savannah, the driver, was airlifted to Savannah’s Memorial Health University Medical Center with serious injuries, Cpl. Balkcom said.
A two-mile eastbound stretch of the interstate was closed for about six hours while members of the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team investigated the accident, Cpl. Balkcom said.
Witnesses told authorities that Officer Fenn’s police car was “traveling at a high rate of speed,” an issue that will be addressed by the investigation, Cpl. Balkcom said.
“There will more than likely be charges,” he said.
Officer Fenn is a participant in a statewide program known as Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (H.E.A.T.), a collaborative effort of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and eight local law enforcement agencies to nab aggressive drivers.
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