What Can I Expect as a Collaborative Family Law Client?
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What Can I Expect When I Call For an Initial Appointment? When you call a collaborative family lawyer for an initial appointment, you can expect to be asked: • Whether your spouse is still living in the same home with you • Whether there are children involved • Whether court proceedings have yet been started by either spouse • When would be a convenient time for you to see the lawyer • Your name, address and phone number If you book an appointment, the lawyer will probably send you some information for you to read in advance. This will likely include: • information regarding the collaborative process • a list of other local collaborative lawyers for you to give your spouse You are not committed to anything at this stage. These documents are merely for your information, to help you decide whether or not the collaborative process seems right for you. What Can I Expect from My First Meeting With My Own Collaborative Lawyer? Your first meeting with your own collaborative lawyer will probably take 45 to 60 minutes. You will likely discuss: • the appropriateness of proceeding collaboratively in your case • the alternatives to proceeding collaboratively • your main concerns regarding your separation or divorce • the retainer agreement between your and your lawyer • the Participation Agreement that all four individuals (both spouses and both lawyers) will eventually sign As soon as you and your spouse are both prepared to commit themselves to the collaborative process, you and your lawyer will also discuss in private: • the agenda for the first 4-way meeting • basic ground rules for the conduct of 4-way meetings • the date and location of the first 4-way meeting • what results to expect from the first 4-way meeting What Is the First Four-Way Meeting Like? Before the first 4-way meeting, the two collaborative lawyers will speak to each other to find out whether there are any pressing items to be dealt with. At the meeting, you can expect the following to occur: • a review of the basic ground rules as a guide to good negotiations • the signing of the Participation Agreement • discussion of any pressing items that were already placed on the agenda by the lawyers in their prior telephone conversation • a discussion of the further information to be provided by each spouse • the selection of dates and times for future meetings • setting of the agenda for the next meeting • the “homework” that each participant will complete before the next meeting There should be no surprises at the first meeting. No-one will be permitted to raise contentious issues that are not already on the agenda. One of the lawyers will take minutes of the meeting and write them up afterwards for circulation to the other three participants. What Happens at Subsequent Meetings? • the minutes of the last meeting are reviewed • the items on the agenda are discussed • an agenda is set for the next meeting How Does It All End? When agreement is reached on all of the issues, the terms will be incorporated into a written document by the lawyers. This separation agreement with then be signed at a four-way meeting. |
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Introduction Find a Collaborative Lawyer in Quinte Area What Can I Expect as a Collaborative Client? A Brief History of Collaborative Family Law About the Quinte Collaborative Law Association (QCLA) Links Contact webmaster |
Quinte Collaborative Law Association
c/o P.O. Box 1327
Belleville, Ontario
K8N 5J1
Contact webmaster
Last updated February
25, 2003