Collaborative Law Overview
How Collaborative Practice works
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FAQs - Frequently asked questions about Collaborative Practice
Mr and Mrs Z had been separated for several years. Mrs Z, for whom we acted, remained living at the former matrimonial home. Mr Z had run off with her best friend. They had not spoken for some time.
Understandably Mrs Z was very resentful about what had happened and frequently referred to her erstwhile friend in disparaging terms. Mr Z had heard about this from mutual friends.
Mrs Z came to see us, saying that she wanted to sort out her finances. She had a very firm of what she thought was best. She had done much research on the Internet.
We discussed the Collaborative process with her. She was not keen at all because she felt that she could not face her husband, not having spoken to him for some time. Her husband’s lawyer was equally pessimistic about the prospects of proceeding in view of what he knew Mrs Z had been saying about Mr Z’s partner.
The first meeting was very difficult. Mrs Z left her husband in no doubt about how she felt about what he had done. She was angry and tearful. After she had “vented her spleen” Mr Z calmly and quietly apologized for what had happened. As the meeting developed so the two of them started to enter into a dialogue so that afterwards they were able to discuss the arrangements for the sale of their property.
The process duly took its course and after four roundtable meetings an agreement was reached that both of them were satisfied with. They had both made concessions. Mrs Z agreed to accept rather less from the proceeds of sale of the home but Mr Z was still left with only a small amount of liquid capital although he had been able to preserve his pension.
This is a one small illustration of the power of Collaborative Law. An agreement had been reached by a couple in a civilized way by way of constructive discussion where previously there had been no dialogue at all for a significant period of time. Had this case proceeded to litigation it is doubtful that such a solution would have been achieved.
