Process

While every file will vary with the needs of the client, most Collaborative Family Law files involve these Five Basic Steps:

Not every file begins the same way, but most collaborative files will begin with either one or both parties contacting one of the collaborative professionals of Kamloops Collaborative Family Law Association. Both parties must consent to work using the collaborative family law process, and this will usually require both parties to sign a Collaborative Family Law Agreement.

If you are interested in Collaborative Family Law, but are unsure of whether your former partner is interested or even understand what this process is all about, you may contact any member of the Kamloops Collaborative Family Law Association who can provide you with some insight or assistance in helping your former partner to understand and engaged in the collaborative family law process with you.

You may review the biographies of our members here and contact any of our members for assistance in starting a collaborative family law file. You can also fill our online forms, or make an appointment with any of our members.

The Kamloops Collaborative Family Law Association provides all the professionals you need in resolving your family law disputes from family law lawyers, mediators, arbitrators, financial specialist, child specialist, child interviewer, parenting coordinators, family counsellors and therapists, and divorce coaches to help you resolve your family law dispute out of court. The basic Collaborative Family Law team is composed of one family Lawyer, one Financial Specialist, and one Divorce Coach. While we recommend each client to retain separate independent professionals as part of their team, some professionals may be able to act for both parties or maybe able to act in different capacities depending on their training and background.

Once you have assembled your team, your team of professionals will help you organize to commence the collaborative law process by engaging the services required that will help you and your former partner best arrive at an agreement that will resolve your family law dispute. Depending on the needs of the parties, Kamloops Collaborative Family Law Association can provide you with the following services including:

  • Collaborative Family Law
  • Independent Legal Advice
  • Mediation
  • Arbitration
  • Negotiation
  • Separation Agreement
  • Income Management and Planning
  • Investment and Stock Planning
  • Tax Planning
  • Individual/Group Family Counselling
  • Divorce Counselling
  • Child Therapy and Counselling
  • Parenting Plan and Agreement
  • Parenting Support
  • Views of the Children

The goal of an individualized Collaborative Family Law plan is to provide both parties with:

  1. Education of their rights and responsibilities,
  2. tools to resolve conflict with their former spouse without the need for litigation in court, and
  3. a comprehensive Separation Agreement which aims to resolve all issues in the family matter arising between the parties.

By the end of the Collaborative Family Law process, both parties will have a Separation Agreement and received professional advice on one or more of the following topics:

  • Spousal Support and Child Support
  • Mediation and Arbitration
  • Parenting Coordination
  • Views of the Children
  • Parenting Plan and Agreement
  • Tax Planning
  • Adult and Child Counselling

Reaching an Agreement need not be the end of the Collaborative Law process if clients are worried about future issues. Some clients may desire some continuing legal, financial, and counselling services. All of the Kamloops Collaborative Family Law professionals are experienced members of their own professions, and may be able to assist you further in their independent capacity. Contact us to make appointments with any of our professionals.