Collaborative Family Law Services

Atty. Joanna Cobleigh can work with you to use the Collaborative Law process to help you and your family retain control over your case, instead of requiring a judge to determine what's right for your family. The Collaborative Law process gives the family members involved the opportunity to taylor the outcome of their case to suit their family's needs, while keeping it within the guidelines of the law so that it is acceptable to the court. Through the Collaborative Law process, you and your family members will create a solution that meets your family's long term and short term goals and needs

Atty. Cobleigh is a family law attorney specially trained in Collaborative Law. Collaborative Law is a new and different method for resolving all types of disputes. It is especially suited to resolving family disputes. Collaborative Law takes the focus away from litigation and, instead, focuses on the family. The collaborative counsel and their clients work together to resolve the problems necessary in a divorce, separation, or other family law issue through mutual cooperation, respect, and understanding. Atty. Cobleigh will advocate and negotiate for her client in a way that is respectful, understanding, and fair to the entire family. Litigation is not an option, and it is this important difference that makes Collaborative Law so unique and effective.

In Collaborative Law, the family members and their collaborative attorneys agree to make a good-faith effort to settle all of the issues outside of court. They agree not to go to court until a final agreement is reached. This is accomplished through a series of meetings involving collaborative counsel and clients. Often, other collaborative professionals, such as financial analysts or divorce coaches, are used to resolve complicated issues. Through cooperation and respect, rather than litigation and acrimony, family members can maintain good relations even after the case is over. This is especially important in family law where children or extended family may be involved.

How Collaborative Family Law works:

• The goal is to reach a settlement without litigation.
• Each party is represented by collaborative counsel who respectfully advocates for that individual.
• If the case must be litigated, the collaborative lawyers must withdraw and both parties must hire new counsel. It is this essential piece that motivates the parties to work through their problems to a fair, respectful, creative solution.
• Each party, including the collaborative professionals, sign a participation agreement, outlining their roles and expectations.
• Clients and collaborative professionals confer through a series of meetings in which all parties are treated fairly and equally.
• The goal is to address the underlying interests of the case and resolve all problems together.
• Collaborative lawyers work with their clients to protect their rights as well as help them to recognize the concerns of all the members of the family.
• The parties agree to fully disclose all information necessary to achieve an agreement.
• If consultants or experts are needed, they will be chosen jointly and will be neutral.
• All participants, clients and collaborative professionals alike, agree to conduct themselves respectfully and fairly, in a way that will foster the clients' relationship to each other, not only during negotiations, but for the future and the benefit of the entire family.