Each attorney Ive interviewed says he will try to settle my case. What difference would Collaborative Family Law make?
The attorneys you have seen have good intentions. They truly do want to resolve your case and save you attorney’s fees and costs. The problem is they have no control over your spouse or his or her attorney. Your spouse and his or her attorney may say, “If you don’t settle on my terms, we’ll just go to trial.” In Collaborative Family Law, the parties AND their attorneys enter in to a Participation Agreement, which provides that they will facilitate a fair and reasonable settlement without resorting to litigation. If any party to this agreement breaches the contract, there are heavy consequences. Both attorneys must withdraw. They cannot take the case to trial and earn larger fees. The parties must retain new attorneys, incurring additional fees and costs. Collaborative Family Law works because, very simply, it is in everyone’s best interests to resolve the issues and enter into an Agreement.
