Allen, Texas, Collaborative Law Attorneys
Collaborative law is a non-adversarial dispute resolution process in which the parties work together, with the assistance of their attorneys and other neutral professionals, to resolve their disputes without going to court. The parties may be (and typically are) adverse to one another, but the process does not put them against each other as adversaries.
Instead, the parties, their lawyers, and other neutral professionals work together as a team. The focus of the collaborative law process is on addressing the parties' goals and interests in a forward-looking manner rather than punishing the parties for past behavior.
To increase the likelihood that complicated and conflicted relationships will be disentangled in a way that addresses the parties underlying interests, the collaborative law process uses a team of professionals from a variety of disciplines and requires the parties to actively participate in the process. The collaborative team is comprised of two attorneys, each hired by one of the parties to the divorce, a neutral financial professional, a neutral mental health professional, and of course, the parties to the divorce.
In the event the parties are not able to resolve their issues using collaborative law, they may opt out of the process and litigate. Either party may opt out of the collaborative law process at any time. By opting out, the collaborative process will end, the collaborative lawyers must withdraw, and the parties must hire new litigation lawyers. To preserve the confidentiality of the collaborative process, none of the collaborative professionals (lawyers, communications facilitators, financial professionals, or other neutral professionals) may testify at any subsequent trial or hearing.
The key to achieving a successful resolution in the Collaborative Process is to keep the parties focused on their interests and how those interests relate to their ultimate goals. Often, parties focus too much on what they want without thinking about why they want it. In so doing, parties find themselves in the trap of positional bargaining.
Our attorneys are committed to the collaborative process and have substantial training in interest-based negotiation to help guide our clients through the collaborative process every step of the way. Our attorneys are members of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Carie Mack is also a member of the Collaborative Law Alliance of Collin County. Carie P. Mack is a frequent lecturer on the subject of collaborative law and interest-based negotiation and has presented to various bar associations, businesses, and community groups throughout the State of Texas.
To view a chart on REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR THE COLLABORATIVE LAW PROCESS click here.
Contact Us
Collaborative law can lead to a resolution of virtually any family law legal problem, including those involving child support, custody, and visitation, prenuptial agreements and divorce. If you have questions regarding collaborative law, talk with us to find out if this process would be a good option for you. We offer weekday and evening appointments and accept credit cards. Contact us at 469-519-1020.
