What is the difference between Collaborative Law and mediation?
In mediation the mediator is a neutral third party who does not give either of you legal advice and will not side with either of you. The mediator is there to facilitate the discussion between you and your partner and has a duty to advise you each to take separate legal advice, either during the process or after. Lawyers are rarely present during the mediation sessions. Any settlement discussed during mediation is only binding once each of you have had the opportunity of taking separate legal advice and have transferred the agreement into a separate consent order of the court. The mediator cannot prepare the court documents for you nor finalise the process. In collaborative family law, you each have your own lawyer throughout the process advising you and presenting your case on your behalf. If you don’t feel up to negotiating on your own behalf, aren’t sure about the financial side of things, or feel vulnerable when in the sole presence of the other party, collaborative family law coul
