The Collaborative Process
Your Collaborative Team
Collaborative divorce differs from the traditional litigative divorce model. In Collaborative Divorce, the spouses work with a team made up of two Collaborative attorneys, a financial neutral, and a Collaborative coach. Together the team supports the spouses in making decisions and coming to agreements about finances and parenting.
An Interest-Based Approach
Collaborative divorce is a creative and supportive approach that considers the needs and interests of both spouses in a marriage dissolution or legal separation. We do not promise a conflict-free divorce, but the Collaborative approach will help manage the conflict.
Resolution & Support
As you and your spouse work this process, the Collaborative professionals will guide you to create agreements that are your own. This non-adversarial process supports a long-term resolution where both clients moves forward with the support they want, need, and deserve. Parents are supported in minimizing the emotional impact of family changes on their children.
You can find more information about collaborative law at CollaborativeDivorceWashington.com.
Reduced Fee Program
King County Collaborative Law has a sliding-scale reduced fee program. This means that clients with limited means may still be able to pay for Collaborative professional services — attorneys, financial professionals, coaches, and child specialists. If you and your spouse earn a combined income of less than $124,000, and if you also have limited assets, you may qualify for this program.
Types of Collaborative Professionals
GET CONNECTED
As a non-profit professional organization of trained and experienced Collaborative Lawyers and allied professionals, we ensure that you get value from the services our members provide.
- Family Law Attorneys
- Civil Law Attorneys
- Coaches
- Child Specialists
- Therapists
- Financial Specialists
- Mediators
- Financial Planners
- Mortgage Brokers
Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE
There’s a better way for your family to move forward. Discover more about Collaborative Law for divorce, legal separation or parenting plans.
What is Collaborative Law?
The Collaborative Law Process is a way of helping people resolve disputes by working together respectfully to find their own interest-based, equitable resolutions. You can read more on this website and on CollaborativeDivorceWashington.com
Is Collaborative Law Process Different than Mediation?
Both Collaborative Law and Mediation are processes that encourage and support self-determined agreement. The Collaborative Law Process differs from Mediation because the Collaborative approach starts with a written commitment to avoid court or threats of litigation. The threat of going to court as an alternative to agreement is not used as a negotiation strategy in the Collaborative Process but is often used in a mediation process.
Using the Collaborative Law process, you will create, determine and choose your best settlement with the assistance of professionals who support your goal of a self-determined outcome.
We want a Collaborative Divorce, but we don’t have much money. What are our options?
King County Collaborative Law has established a sliding-scale reduced fee program to enable clients with limited means to pay for Collaborative professional services — attorneys, financial professionals, coaches, and child specialists. If you and your spouse earn a combined income of less than $124,000, and if you also have limited assets, you may qualify for this program.
To receive more information, including an eligibility questionnaire, send an email to access@kingcountycollab.org.
How can I find a Collaborative lawyer/other Collaborative professional?
Use our online directory of KCCL members: Find a Professional.
For The Public
Choosing a Collaborative Professional
Learn more about Collaborative Law and find a professional who can help.
For Professionals
Add a Collaborative Law Service to Your Practice
Create win-win solutions—out of court—with a Collaborative Law approach for your clients.