professionals who serve as “coaches” for each party, and a financial specialist to help with the monetary aspect of the proceedings.  When necessary, a child specialist will join the team to help guide the children through the process with a minimum of trauma, while lending a voice to them and helping with their concerns and needs.

At the outset of the process, the parties and their attorneys sign a four-way Collaborative Law Agreement in which they contract to NOT go to court.  They agree to commit to an open, honest, good faith effort involving full disclosure with the goal of reaching a mutually satisfactory settlement.  The very act of signing this agreement can serve to ease tensions and anxieties while freeing the parties to exert their energies toward achieving the goals made possible by this self-empowering process.  A similar agreement exists between the parties and their coaches.

A mutually satisfactory settlement is arrived at through a series of “four-way” meetings between the parties and their attorneys, who oversee their legal rights, and between the parties and their coaches, who help keep emotions in check while teaching valuable communication and co-parenting skills.  At appropriate times in the process, the other professionals are called in to assist with monetary concerns and with the interests of the children.  Because of the civil and open approach involved in collaborative divorce, it is estimated that 10-14% of the couples