The perception of most people is that when you get divorced you instruct Solicitors to represent your interests and, if agreement cannot be reached, then the Court decides what should happen on your behalf.

This has become the established practice but can often result in both parties incurring high costs, not only financially but emotionally. It is recognised that if parents continue to fight after the breakdown of their relationship then it is the children who can often suffer the most.

Collaborative Family Law provides a different way to deal with issues that have arisen following the breakdown of the relationship. Instructing a Collaborative Family Lawyer ensures that all parties work collaboratively together to try, if at all possible, to reach agreement without Court involvement. Approaching matters collaboratively, the parties themselves remain intimately involved in working out the very best possible solutions for their families. You stay in control and through a series of meetings the necessary aspects are considered and discussed resulting in an acceptable and workable solution agreed between both parties.

The Collaborative approach is based on each party retaining a mutual respect for the other and a determination to resolve their issues without having to go to the Law Courts. Both parties and their respective Collaborative Lawyers sign a Participation Agreement which sets out the future rules for negotiations. Negotiations take place in a series of Four Way Meetings, both the parties and their Solicitors are present and work through a previously agreed Agenda.

There is very little correspondence that is written and this removes a source of contention and anxiety and costs.

The Collaborative approach is relatively new to the United Kingdom but is well established in other areas of the world. Early experiences do however suggest that whilst it is not always an easy option it does help the parties to reduce the pain of a relationship breakdown, together with the support of their collaboratively trained lawyers. People who have used this process are generally very satisfied and feel that they have taken a positive and pro-active part in working out not only their own future arrangements but also those of their children without having solutions imposed on them by the courts.

Anne Jarvis & Co are part of the Harrogate Collaborative Family Law Group and with the other collaboratively trained Lawyers in the area we have established a network of like minded professionals to ensure that clients have the full benefit of this new innovative approach to resolving their family difficulties.

For more information about Collaborative Law please contact Francina Whelan at Anne Jarvis and Co. on 01423 858582 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

If these or any other issues relating to family breakdown are problems for you please contact us on 01423 858582 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it